School Sport A sporting chance for students
teacher running the project had therefore really embraced the opportunity to bring a fresh face into the school through the free initiative, offering 20 students a different learning experience. It was a great visit that really lifted the students and the school. I couldn’t have asked for more in terms of behaviour, interest and enthusiasm and was greatly humbled to see the impact that my visit had made to their school day. Afterwards I received a thank you letter from the teacher, which read:
“I am sure the day will remain with them in some form or other forever. I need to sit back, reflect and put into practice ‘the six steps to make a difference!’ So I thank you personally for helping me on my ‘journey’ in life and in my ‘transformation’ to a better place in spirit.” I utilise my visits as an athlete mentor to support teachers across the curriculum, sharing life skills with the students, which can be applied to all subject areas helping improve behaviour, ambition and attainment. Further lesson ideas and practical session plans are also shared with teachers to enable them to guide the students successfully through their chosen project and also encourage the youngsters to apply the key skills learned in all aspects of their studies.
Olympics legacy Lesley Owusu with students from Westminister school L
esley Owusu, a 400m track and field athlete who also acts as an athlete mentor for educational sport charity, Sky Sports Living for Sport, shares her experiences of encouraging students to engage in PE lessons and discusses her thoughts on the lasting effects of the Olympics legacy in schools.
A wealth of opportunity There is no question that we have just experienced an unforgettable summer of sport in Great Britain and as I return to school visits this autumn term in my role as an athlete mentor for Sky Sports Living for Sport, my focus has turned to how we can capitalise on this to benefit students, teachers and schools, while inspiring a new generation of young athletes. Having discovered my own talent for running at school in Slough after moving to Britain from Ghana at age seven, encouraging students to try out new sports and use sporting skills in all aspects of their school lives is something I am very passionate about.
My talent for running earned me a scholarship to the University of Nebraska and my career as a 400m sprinter has taken me on an unforgettable journey across the globe. While I recognise that not every secondary school student will be a natural sports star, I believe there is a sport for everyone and as the Olympics and Paralympics have just demonstrated, that passion for sport can enrich all aspects of life.
Last year was my first year working as an athlete mentor for the initiative which is run in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust and uses sports stars and sports skills to improve the lives of secondary school students. It has certainly been
an eye opener. Having had little contact with secondary school pupils since my own school days, I had no idea how students would respond to my visits and the delivery of the ‘Six Keys to Success’, which we use to unlock talent and ambition in all areas of life. My first year of school visits has been extremely positive and I have been genuinely delighted with how engaged the secondary school students have been.
From track to teaching
A typical project visit includes both dynamic and reflective approaches to teaching with the students. I like to engage with students on their level, taking them through my personal experiences at school and in sport. I share both the highs and lows of my career, as I believe it is of equal, if not more importance to show students how obstacles in life can be faced and overcome.
A few icebreaker challenges come next, with students relishing the mental and physical test of seeing who can hold the ‘plank’ position or stand on one leg for the longest. This is also often a great opportunity for less ‘sporty’ students to excel. Finally, we move onto a project, which the school has set itself. This could be a focus on a particular sport, or a sport related issue such as nutrition, the importance of regular exercise or the introduction of an unusual sport, such as waveboarding or yoga. We go through the aims of the project, set some goals and decide how we will measure the success of the project. Some of my school visits have been extremely moving. One particular school in Ipswich was going through a lot of changes last year that had impacted on both staff and student morale. The
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This year, I hope to meet students who have been inspired by this summer’s sporting calendar and whose imagination and enthusiasm for sport can now be channelled into improving all aspects of their education.
The London 2012 Olympic Games will only prove to have been a true success if its legacy can be harnessed for the benefit of future generations. I’m not just talking about discovering tomorrow’s sporting champions, but promoting a wider understanding amongst youngsters of the many lifelong, all-round improvements that sport can bring.
uTo get your school involved in Sky Sports Living for Sport, sign up for the 2012/13 academic year at
www.skysports.com/livingforsport
Lesley Owusu October 2012
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