Student Ella joins Francesca Martinez at Festival of Education

A National Star student will be taking to the main stage of the prestigious Festival of Education. 

Ella Rees will join a panel discussion chaired by Francesca Martinez, a well-known comedian, author, actress and playwright. 

Ms Martinez, who has cerebral palsy but much prefers the word ‘wobbly’, launched her comedy career in 2000, when she became the first and only woman to win the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award at the Edinburgh Fringe.  

In 2014, Ms Martinez’s best-selling book What The **** Is Normal?! was published by Penguin Random House. It was nominated for Best Book in the Chortle Comedy Awards and named runner-up in the Bread & Roses Book Award. 

Ella is a second year student at National Star. The 21-year-old communicates by controlling an electronic device with her eyes. She is a woman with a mission – to make the world more accessible for everyone regardless of their disability.  

She is thrilled to be taking part in the Festival of Education, held at Wellington College on July 3-4. 

“This experience will help me to get better at speaking to people I don’t know and I want to be a voice for people with disabilities,” said Ella. 

Lynette Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of National Star, said: “Students are National Star’s greatest ambassadors, and we are very proud that Ella is taking part in this prestigious event. She proves that disability is no barrier to becoming an active citizen and making a difference in our communities.”