It is easy to get caught up in talent, training, or strategy when trying to explain a win. This team has a state-of-the-art training facility. This player has a dominating build. This coach has an impressive strategy, and so on. In reality, there is something much more basic to winning, something that accounts for consistent success. The key to becoming someone who makes winning a normal course of action is to adopt the mentality of a winner—a mentality that people who achieve greatness maintain consistently.

It was an honour to welcome back three of our ex-students who are now part of the Warrington Wolves Rugby League Academy to talk to our students about their experiences and what separates being successful and winning. Karlton Bates (Class of 2017) and Dean Beddall (Class of 2018) are now enjoying life as elite athletes playing for the U19’s Warrington Wolves team. Harry James (Class of 2018) is knocking on the door of U19’s selection and is currently training at the CAT3 programme at Priestley College. The boys talked about failure and why it is important to keep believing and working hard and also gave great examples of how positivity can be infectious. Two very important themes that are pertinent to a young person of today.

Sports Day 2019 was a success. Success in the form of enjoyment, competition, participation and a real community buzz! Thank you to Parents Supporting Boteler for providing refreshments on the day and also our friends at Bowmen of Warrington Archery Club who battled the heat all day to provide provision for our students and the students at Latchford St James Church of England High School. Club links like these are vital to provide young people with development outside the classroom and they reach different children in ways that other aspects of school life might not, and help to complete a child’s educational experiences at school.

For the third year running our students smashed school records that have been held for some time – a testament to their hard work and application in PE and Sport. A massive well done to:

Blake Linley (Year 7) for setting a new Triple Jump record with 8.80m

Jake Yould (Year 8) with a time of 49.00 seconds in the 300m

Zydre Zaranskyte set a new Year 8 Javelin record of 11.80m

In Year 9 there were two record breakers. Cole Brooks set a time of 26.14 seconds in the 200m and Toby Cann smashed the Year 9 300m record by 3 seconds!

Each student who competed or took part in the Sports Festival activities, which included Zorb Football, Tag Rugby, Archery, and Ultimate Frisbee, picked up participation points. A new award was created this year as one student went above and beyond to ensure the House he represented was present in every activity and every race. The ‘Outstanding Contribution to House’ award was awarded to Kaylum Wilde. This boy did everything! A fanatastic achievement.

The overall winners, for a second year running were Warburton House with a total of 476 points, closely followed in second place were Tydlesly with 421 points. In third place was Priestley and propping up the results table in fourth place was Ireland House.

Thank you to the PE team and all the staff for embracing the day and making Sports Day 2019 one to remember.

– Mr C Burbidge