Atiyyah Afzal
Learning Programme Officer
London
Summary
Architect of inclusive educational resources and high-impact digital content. As a Learning Programme Officer and former educator, I am dedicated to designing campaigns that drive meaningful engagement in the charity sector. I am adept at using sensitive interviewing and authentic storytelling as powerful vehicles to anchor complex information, consistently delivering the Royal British Legion’s highest interactive metrics for diverse, out-of-the-ordinary narratives. Bringing robust expertise in multimedia coordination, cross-functional project management, and accessible communication, I am deeply committed to breaking down barriers and translating real-life experiences into compelling digital resources. Resourceful, organised, and equipped with interpersonal skills that surpass those of a Jedi Knight (along with a great sense of humour).
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work history
Learning Programme Officer
Royal British Legion
London
2025.06 - Current
- High-Impact Programme Delivery & Accessibility: Co-manage the national Remembrance Assembly Film in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, achieving a 2025 broadcast viewership of over 230,000 UK students. Championed inclusive communication by ensuring the production was fully accessible, featuring BSL interpretation alongside English and Welsh subtitles.
- Multimedia Asset Co-ordination & VIP Engagement: Oversee the end-to-end development of multimedia storytelling assets. Successfully integrated personal Armed Forces stories with high-profile celebrity and Royal contributors for the 2025 Assembly, and currently spearheading a bespoke educational animation project with Loughborough University.
- Resource Development & Story Integration: Write, design, and produce high-impact, downloadable school resources, conducting in-depth research to strategically embed authentic, real-life narratives across the charity's full suite of educational products.
- Strategic Partnerships: Build collaborative, cross-functional relationships with external stakeholders to deliver live educational events, such as national poetry workshops.
- Story Gathering & Sensitive Interviewing: Conduct sensitive interviews to gather personal stories from the Armed Forces community, strictly adhering to ethical story collection, informed consent, and contributor welfare protocols.
- Impact Evaluation: Assess the effectiveness of learning programmes and digital storytelling initiatives, continuously adapting content to motivate and educate a wide variety of target audiences.
Remembrance Officer
Royal British Legion
City of London
2023.01 - 2025.06
- Story Gathering & Sensitive Interviewing: Researched historical events and conducted sensitive, primary interviews with Second World War veterans and their descendants to author the official storytelling content for the VE and VJ Day 80th anniversaries.
- High-Impact Digital Campaigns: Produced inclusive storytelling campaigns for Black History Month and South Asian Heritage Month, driving the RBL's highest social media engagement statistics of the year by spotlighting underrepresented narratives.
- Stakeholder Stewardship & Partnerships: Built deeply trusted relationships with veterans, volunteers, and community groups, notably spearheading a successful content partnership with the South Asian Heritage Trust to share diverse stories of service.
- Resource & Content Development: Analysed participation data and Remembrance trends to develop accessible, tailored educational materials for a 10,000+ membership base, collaborating with various external agencies and suppliers.
- Event Coordination: Provided vital on-the-ground physical and logistical support for local and national Remembrance events, including the hosting of VIP attendees.
- Financial Administration: Effectively managed resources and project budgets across multiple campaigns, handling POs, invoices, GRNs, and recording overall expenditure.
Lead Trainer
St John Ambulance
City of London
2018.09 - 2023.01
- Lived-Experience Storytelling & PR: Featured as a primary contributor in the organisation’s largest national advertising campaign to date. Collaborated closely with PR and media teams to publicly share my personal story, gaining invaluable firsthand insight into the contributor journey, media production, and ethical storytelling.
- Large-Scale Public Communication: Delivered high-impact training and presentations to diverse audiences across the UK, successfully instructing over 25,000 individuals over five years by adapting communication styles to suit all ages and backgrounds.
- Resource Development & Quality Assurance: Created, evaluated, and improved a wide range of educational resources, conducting Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) activities to maintain consistently high standards.
- Team Leadership & Mentoring: Managed a team of 20 staff members on an interim basis and provided dedicated coaching and mentoring to 10 apprentices and trainee trainers.
- Performance Monitoring: Evaluated employee progress and delivered strategic feedback to management to identify and fulfill ongoing training requirements.
Assistant Examiner
Cambridge International/ OCR
Cambridge
2018.11 - Current
- High-Volume Assessment: Evaluate substantial volumes of examination scripts—including 736 Marine Science papers for the current summer series—ensuring strict adherence to standardized mark schemes.
- Quality Assurance & Detail: Navigate a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while maintaining rigorous attention to detail and consistently high-quality output.
- Compliance & Escalation: Identify and escalate marking discrepancies through appropriate channels, demonstrating strong analytical skills and a commitment to maintaining accurate educational standards.
Supply teacher
Agency
London
2017.10 - 2018.09
- Delivered adaptable instruction across diverse primary and secondary schools, managing competing priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Demonstrated strong initiative by rapidly creating and adapting educational resources on the fly when required.
- Exercised tact, diplomacy, and calm under pressure when managing sensitive classroom situations and diverse needs.
Science Teacher
Sarah Bonnell School
City of London
2016.08 - 2017.08
- Educational Content Creation: Planned and authored engaging learning resources and practical assessments, adapting diverse teaching strategies to prepare students for higher-level education.
- Driving Engagement: Cultivated curiosity and critical thinking, successfully encouraging student advocacy and participation in the extracurricular STEM club.
- Proven Success Metrics: Achieved an 85% GCSE pass rate within a middle/low ability class (including 15% scoring grade B or higher) by tailoring feedback and support to diverse needs.
Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Education - Secondary Science Education (Biology)
UCL Institute of Education
London07.2016
Bachelor of Science - Biotechnology and Biochemistry
University of East London
London2015-08
TQUK Level 2 - Special educational needs and disability (RQF)
The Skills Network
City of London2021-11
FAQ Level 3 - Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (AAVRA)
FutureQuals
City of London2021-10
FAQ level 4 Award - Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practices (IQA)
FutureQuals
City of London2021-10
Skills
Creator & Storyteller Independent Digital Project Salam and Salute/ salamandsalutecouk/
- Founded and manage a dedicated website to source, gather, and publish stories of Muslim service in the British Armed Forces
- Independently manage the digital platform and Content Management System (CMS), utilising strong digital writing skills to ensure these historically underrepresented narratives reach a wider external audience
Volunteer Content Writer Partition Memorial Trust [01/2026] ‑ Present
- Author highly researched, sensitive historical blog posts and narrative content exploring the 1947 Partition and its lasting cultural legacy
- Conduct independent research and translate complex, deeply emotional, and generational histories into accessible digital content that fosters community engagement and education
Timeline
Learning Programme Officer
Royal British Legion
2025.06 - Current
Remembrance Officer
Royal British Legion
2023.01 - 2025.06
Assistant Examiner
Cambridge International/ OCR
2018.11 - Current
Lead Trainer
St John Ambulance
2018.09 - 2023.01
Supply teacher
Agency
2017.10 - 2018.09
Science Teacher
Sarah Bonnell School
2016.08 - 2017.08
Postgraduate Certificate in Education - Secondary Science Education (Biology)
UCL Institute of Education
Bachelor of Science - Biotechnology and Biochemistry
University of East London
TQUK Level 2 - Special educational needs and disability (RQF)
The Skills Network
FAQ Level 3 - Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (AAVRA)
FutureQuals
FAQ level 4 Award - Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practices (IQA)
FutureQuals