This week, we were delighted to welcome Gloria Dalafu to William Ford Church of England Junior School to speak to our pupils about her incredible life journey.

Gloria has worked in a range of fields — as a teacher, entrepreneur, model, and television actress — but her story began in Lambadi, a very poor region of Ghana, where she grew up in extreme poverty. She shared powerful memories of sharing clothes with her siblings, wearing shoes that did not fit, and sometimes having little or no food to eat.

Her message to our pupils was deeply inspiring: “It is not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be.” Gloria encouraged everyone to believe in themselves, to work hard, and to take control of their own story — reminding pupils that life is like a movie, and that they are the ones who should be writing the script, not letting anyone else write it for them.

After her talk, Gloria was interviewed live on our school radio station, where pupils asked insightful questions about her life, achievements, and advice for young people.

Her visit builds on the series of inspirational speakers who have come to William Ford to share how they have overcome barriers, including those linked to neurodiversity such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. Gloria’s story offered another powerful example of resilience, determination, and hope — qualities we seek to nurture in every pupil.