Riyaz is the Executive Head Teacher of Madani Schools Federation consisting of Madani Boys School and Madani Girls School in Leicester — two high-performing secondary schools on a very strong five-year upward trend, with a strong track record of high performance across academic and pastoral related key performance measures.

The schools have received numerous accolades including most recently in 2022 a Voice 21 centre of excellence award, in recognition of the quality of oracy education being provided across five areas of school life: the school’s vision, culture, curriculum, learning and impact on students.

Personally, Riyaz was shortlisted and a highly commended finalist for the award for Head Teacher of the Year in a secondary school at the Pearson National Teaching Awards in 2021. His personal teaching philosophy is based on the holistic development and progress of every child where personal excellence is not predetermined by social background nor constrained by educational disadvantage.

Riyaz firmly believes that successful schools and communities derive directly from the quality and kind of education young people receive; through building self-confidence, self-esteem, instilling high expectations and aspirations for each pupil to achieve their potential.