Sportshall Athletics Leaders

SK students officiate at West of England Sportshall Athletics Finals

Such has been the quality of the leadership that our year 10 students have demonstrated this year that once again, for the fourth year running, young leaders from St Katherine’s have officiated both the primary and secondary West of England Sportshall Athletics Finals.

What is even more exciting is that our current year 10 cohort is perhaps the best group we have ever had through in terms of the quality of their leadership as a whole!

This bunch could not have been better prepared after hours of practice events as well as some top notch training from Dave Turner. They knew exactly what they were doing and went straight about their business as soon as they arrived. The students were in for a long and exhausting day but one that would hopefully be hugely rewarding and beneficial for them going forward.

Students led the primary school event in the first half of the day and the secondary finals in the afternoon. The students ran every single aspect of the event. They had to set up equipment, explain, demonstrate and coach events, officiate using the rules of each event, measure and record scores, encourage competitors, answer queries from students and staff, watch for track placings, input scores onto the computer, present medals and then pack everything away at the end!

At every single event that they have led at this year they have received glowing feedback from staff, students, organisers and parents. This event was no different and the quality of their leadership was noted yet again! St Katherine’s students exuded enthusiasm, confidence, energy and competence throughout the day.

I am a huge believer that you cannot quantify the benefit that students get from these experiences. Acting as a role model, using initiative, being able to communicate effectively and working as part of a team are all skills that significantly increase a person’s employability. There so many bright young students all in direct competition and being able to draw upon and evidence the practical application of some of these skills is something that I know will set our students apart from others!

At St Katherine’s we have always had a really strong thread of sporting leadership that runs right through everything we do and our students seem to grasp these opportunities for their benefit. We are really proud that we have so many great young leaders throughout the school and will continue to give them as many opportunities as we can to develop.

We are extremely proud of you all – well done.

The PE Faculty