The Educator Magazine U.K. Sept-Dec 2026 issue - Magazine - Page 64
From Britain’s
Got Talent to BBC
Young Hero judge:
‘Mr T’ calls for adults to see
what young people are capable of
The Leicestershire educator who helped
100 primary school children take Britain’s
Got Talent by storm is calling on adults
to “change the narrative” around young
people as he prepares to judge some of the
county’s most inspirational youngsters.
Halil Tamgumus - better known to
generations of pupils as “Mr
T” - has been chosen as a judge
for the Young Hero Award at
BBC Radio Leicester’s Make a
Difference Awards on Thursday 3
September.
happen when we stop putting limits on
children and instead give them an
opportunity to show us what they can do.
“Those 100 children walked onto that stage
with courage, energy and absolute belief
in one another. What made me proudest
wasn't the television cameras or even the
But for Halil, now a School Improvement
Advisor with Discovery Schools Academies
Trust, the experience was about far more
than appearing on television.
It was about showing children - and the
adults around them - what can happen
when young people are given the
confidence, encouragement and
opportunity to shine.
Now, after reading the stories of youngsters
nominated for the BBC Young Hero Award,
he says that message has been reinforced
all over again.
Halil said: “Britain’s Got Talent showed me
on the biggest possible scale what can
“Our youngsters get plenty of bad press.
I think we have a responsibility to change
that narrative and shine a
light on what is right with our
young people rather than
constantly searching for what
is wrong.
“That was a huge part of what
our Britain’s Got Talent
journey represented for me,
and it's why being asked to
judge this award feels
particularly special.
The invitation comes just months
after Halil reunited with 100
of his former pupils from
Braunstone Community Primary
School to take their infectious
mix of music, dance and school
spirit onto one of the biggest
stages in British television.
The children, aged seven to 11,
captured the imagination of
millions when their Britain’s Got Talent
performance earned them the coveted
Golden Buzzer and sent them through to
the live semi-finals.
“They can teach us about kindness, about
getting back up when things are difficult,
about caring for other people and about
turning difficult experiences into something
positive.
“I know how powerful it can
be for a young person when
somebody says: ‘We see you.
We see what you've achieved,
and it matters.’”
Golden Buzzer. It was seeing them realise
that they belonged there.
“Reading the nominations for the Young
Hero Award has brought so much of that
back to me.
“We hear a lot about young people - what
they don't do, what they can't do and what
they're supposedly getting wrong. But
perhaps, as adults, we need to look a little
harder and listen a little more.”
Halil said the nominations tell stories of
young people who have demonstrated
remarkable empathy, resilience and
courage, including youngsters who have
faced significant challenges themselves but
have still found ways to help others.
He added: “We spend so much time in
education thinking about what we need to
teach children and young people.
Sometimes we need to let them teach us.
Halil has spent much of his working life
in education and today works across
Discovery Trust's community of schools,
helping to improve educational
experiences and opportunities for children
across Leicestershire.
His relationship with the Braunstone pupils
captured national attention after his Friday
afternoon music and dance sessions,
designed to boost wellbeing and
engagement, developed into the
extraordinary Britain’s Got Talent
performance.
The BBC Radio Leicester Make a Difference
Awards celebrate people making an exceptional contribution to communities across
Leicester and Leicestershire.
Halil will join the judging panel for the
Young Hero Award ahead of the ceremony
on Thursday 3 September.
