Inspiring Future Athletes
Talent, ambition and sporting spirit filled Knighton Tennis Centre in October, as Lionheart’s annual Sports Performance and Careers Day hosted a selection of Year 9 and 10 students from across the Trust’s East Midlands secondary schools.
The high-energy event - designed to spark ambition and broaden horizons – welcomed students with a strong interest in physical activity and offered a unique opportunity to explore new sports and the wide range of careers in the sports industry.
The day was packed with action, as students rotated through four high-energy stations, each offering a fresh challenge and a chance to try something new:
Boxing: Led by Leanne Taylor, Head of PE at Judgemeadow Community College, this session had students jabbing, ducking, and sweating through a dynamic workout.
Cricket: Matt Craven, PE Teacher from Beauchamp College returned with his ever-popular cricket practical, bringing technique and teamwork to the fore.
Pickleball: Mercia Academy’s PE Teacher, Joe Chamberlain, introduced students to this fast-growing sport — a fun, accessible blend of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong that quickly became a crowd favourite.
Careers Talk: The final station featured guest speaker Andy Morrell, former professional footballer for Wrexham, Coventry City and Blackpool. Andy shared stories from his time on the pitch and gave students a behind-the-scenes look at the many careers that support elite sport — from physiotherapy to sports journalism.
The careers talk was just as interactive as the sports sessions, with Andy fielding a flurry of questions from curious students eager to learn more about life as a pro-sportsperson. His message to them was clear: work hard, stay passionate and be ready for opportunity.
Students threw themselves into every session, developing skills and confidence, while connecting with peers from across the Trust.
The feedback from staff and students was very positive and the students loved all the sessions,
said Rebecca Ardley, Lionheart’s PE Lead.
All students were an absolute pleasure to have in attendance and represented their schools, and the Trust, very well in all activities.
Participating schools: Beauchamp College, The Castle Rock School, The Cedars Academy, Humphrey Perkins School, Judgemeadow Community College, Martin High School, Mercia Academy, The Newbridge School and Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College.
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Lionheart Educational Trust