Exceptional teen leader shines at prestigious police awards

A 13-year-old student hailed as an exceptional leader within her entire school community was among the inspiring young people whose qualities shone through at Nottinghamshire Police’s prestigious Nxt Gen Awards ceremony.

Aimee Pattison, a Year 9 student at The Outwood Academy, in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, was praised by her school for her ‘outstanding leadership, initiative, reliability, and genuine commitment to improving the lives of others both within school and in the wider community.’

Aimee, who currently serves as Student Prime Minister at her school, has led on numerous projects including:

• Advocating for improvements to school toilet facilities for the benefit of all students
• Organising and leading a bake sale, which raised hundreds of pounds for the Young Minds mental health charity
• Coordinating donations of food and essential supplies to the local foodbank in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, strengthening the school’s connection with the local community and supporting those in need

Her initiative and ‘unwavering commitment to positive change’ were among the reasons Aimee was nominated and chosen as a finalist for our Leadership Award.

This accolade forms part of our Nxt Gen Awards, an annual scheme which highlights the inspiration work of young people across the county.

Aimee was among our shortlisted awards finalists whose achievements were heralded at our glittering awards ceremony held at force headquarters on Friday (8 May).

History teacher Ryan Spencer, who nominated Aimee for the award, said: “Aimee is a role model for the entire school community. She leads by example, setting high standards for herself and inspiring her team to do the same.

“She doesn’t wait to be told what to do, instead she regularly proposes her own initiatives, carefully thought through and rooted in genuine need.

"She is highly organised, follows through on commitments, and can be relied upon to see projects through from idea to completion.”

Mr Spencer added: “Aimee is a proud ambassador for our school and a young person who is already making a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

“Since being elected Student Prime Minister, Aimee has attended weekly Student Parliament meetings, where she consistently demonstrates maturity well beyond her years.

“In these meetings, she leads discussions with confidence, listens carefully to others, and ensures that all voices are heard.

"Her leadership is not limited to the meeting room; her influence is visible across the academy and beyond, particularly through projects that have had a tangible and lasting impact.

“Aimee is motivated by a sincere desire to make things better for others. She deeply cares about her fellow students, her school, and her community, and this empathy underpins everything she does.

"She consistently promotes positivity, hard work, and inclusivity, and she approaches challenges with determination and resilience.

"Despite her young age, she handles responsibility with confidence and professionalism, earning the respect of both students and staff.”

Aimee said: “As Student Prime Minister I make decisions to make the academy a better place, inform the Principal of ideas we’ve come up with, and make sure that students’ voices are heard.

“I was so excited to be nominated for the Nxt Gen Awards and shortlisted for Leadership Award.

"I’m pretty proud of what I’ve helped to achieve within school, including the new toilets, and I’m determined to keep doing what I can to improve people’s lives and make a real difference.”