Sian Fenner, Director of Sport

Have you always loved sport/what’s your personal sports story?

I come from a very sporting background: my Grandpa had 3 senior caps for Wales in rugby in the 1920s, my Grandad played semi- professional football for Middlesbrough, my dad reached regional levels at rugby and athletics and my mum was a county athlete.  I was very shy as a child and sport was hugely instrumental in developing my confidence and self- belief.  My secondary school PE teacher should take most of the credit as she saw my potential and encouraged me to give various sports a go.  Most significantly, she took me along to her netball club and I never looked back.  I thrived and went on to represent Wales at U-16, U-18 and U-21 levels competing in various international fixtures which was an amazing experience.  My involvement in the club netball system has given me so many wonderful times and helped me to develop so many life skills and I am still playing 43 years later.  You can never directly repay those that have helped you but, once I settled in Shropshire 20 years ago, I decided to try to do the same for others.  With 2 friends with similar rationale, we set up a junior netball club in Shrewsbury. The first night we had 3 coaches and 6 players. Today our club has over 150 juniors and 4 adult teams playing in huge variety of leagues from grass roots to regional standard.  I now encourage SHS students to come and join us and I currently play in the same team as 3 of our 6^th formers.

Favourite Sport and Why?

I love all sports whether as a player or a spectator. Netball is in my blood and is part of who I am today and will always be my favourite.  However, the sport I love to watch most is athletics as it so objective and instant and you can never be sure who will win: I have tickets to the Commonwealth Games in August and can’t wait!  Being Welsh I have grown up with rugby, and the passion and noise in the stadium when the Welsh National Anthem is being sung at the start of a 6 nations match is the most uplifting sporting moment ever.

Why do you love teaching Sport/PE at SHS?

Sport and PE are the most wonderful vehicles to encourage every student to develop the SHS pillars of Character, Achievement and Endeavour even within a single lesson or practice.  I love seeing students find self-belief, push themselves out of their comfort zone and reach their true potential.   Whether it is witnessing the joy of a year 3 student finally swimming a width, a dancer performing on stage for the first time or one of our elite athletes winning a national competition, I relish every milestone.  I also feel very privileged that Sport and PE allows me to see a different side to every student and get to know them in multiple facets of their lives and as a whole person.

Your highlight of the SHS sports calendar?

This so hard as there are so many all with different aims and objectives.  Sports Day is a fantastic house event with camaraderie, competition, team- work and a show of athletic prowess but also highlights the importance of taking part.  Winter Dance is a celebration of an undivided, all welcome showpiece that gives so many the chance to be involved.  The annual Condover netball weekend and all the GDST rallies combine the social and competitive side of sport and helps students to understand what amazing opportunities being part of the GDST offers.  Finally, our annual Sports Dinner gives the platform to reward excellence as both individuals and as a team unit.

Tell us something you don’t think most people know about sport at SHS:

We have an equestrian team, students can learn to row from year 10, we have great club links with several local sports clubs, we offer fixtures for all students that come to training whatever their standard, our senior gymnastics team is consistently in the top 4 in England, we run Sports Leadership courses, we have been the best overall performing Shropshire school at the county netball tournaments for all but one of the last 19 years.

Rachel Sadd, Teacher of PE /  Deputy Director of Sixth Form, Deputy DSL

Have you always loved sport/what’s your personal sports story?

Sport has always been a huge part of my life and brought many positive experiences to my life.  My PE teacher at secondary school was my first role model and someone that took me under her wing.  School allowed me to experience a range of sports teams including gym, trampolining, netball, hockey, basketball, rounders and athletics.  I represented my County in netball, athletics (hurdles, 200m and long jump) and cross country.

Rounders was the sport that I achieved the most in as I played for my Country as a back stop.  This involved many fixtures against our home nations, plus the West Indies.  I travelled to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and played against the West Indies rounders team.  I am extremely proud of my achievements within this sport. As part of my role playing for England, I was a sporting ambassador educating and visiting schools about the importance of sport and being active.

Sport has given me the avenues to see the world and meet many different people.  At University I also learnt how to play volleyball and represented my University in both Netball and Volleyball.  After Uni I played rugby for just three seasons after realising that attending work on the Monday with black eyes, was not good for my reputation.

I have also run the London Marathon which was one of my bucket list activities. So I think that it is safe to say that sport has always been a huge part of my life.

Currently I am playing for Recycles adult netball team and run to keep fit. I spend most of my time supporting my two sons who are also very active playing a range of sports.

Favourite sport and why?  Netball, rounders and athletics.

I do not have one favourite, it is too hard to choose. Netball because of being member of a team, the feeling of camaraderie and someone is always there if and when you make a mistake.  Rounders because of all the wonderful experiences and Athletics because of the personal achievement as you are on your own and no-one else can have any impact on your performance.  I love running although, due to age, I have seriously slowed down from what I used to be able to do.

Why do you love teaching Sport/PE at SHS?

I love sharing my passion for sport and seeing the students achieve and progress in activities to suit them. The opportunities available now is amazing and all students can get involved in and out of SHS no matter their interests and skill level.

Your highlight of the SHS sports calendar?

Sports Day is amazing as the 6^th formers demonstrate their love and passion for their houses. You only have to see the photos! They are able to ignite all year groups enthusiasm and the event allows everyone to participate, no matter the ability.

Tell us something you don’t think most people know about sport at SHS.

There are so many recreational as well as performance clubs for every year group to get involved with. We also will provide for a sport/activity if there is an interest from the students.

We have also been the top performing netball school in Shropshire for the last 18 out of 19 years.

Ceri Anthony, PE Teacher / Head of Middle Stage

Have you always loved sport/what’s your personal sports story?

Sport has always been a passion however it was quite limited during primary school playing netball and running cross country were the only real opportunities (I was good at cross country as we had to do a lot of running around the sheep on the home farm!).  As I started secondary school, lots more opportunities arose, playing hockey, football and netball competitively and continuing to do this after my schooling years. I still play netball in Division 1 of the Shrewsbury League, where I captain my team, Newtown.  I did still play hockey up until 4 years ago but had to finish due to having my children.  Cricket is a sport I have started recently and I am currently trying to set up a women’s section at my local club.

My magic moment was probably during a hockey game where we only had 10 players (no goal keeper) and it was a game which would take us to the top of the league if we won.  During the game, I had a ball to the eye, which required stitches after the game, but refused to play-on with bandages all around my head and ended up making a dive across the goal and saving the ball with my stick to secure a 1 – 0 win!

Favourite sport and why?

Hockey… had some amazing opportunities over the years which have provided me with lots of amazing memories such as our hockey goal keeper heading the ball to save a goal in a Welsh Cup final!

Why do you love teaching Sport/PE at SHS?

Sport and PE has always been a passion of mine, but you get to see so many qualities and different personalities during lessons that it is such a rewarding subject to teach.

Your highlight of the SHS sports calendar?

Sports Day!

Tell us something you don’t think most people know about sport at SHS.

We offer such a broad range of sports which are inclusive for all to come and have a go at.

Michelle Reece,  Teacher of PE

Have you always loved sport/what’s your personal sports story?

My passion for sport started at Secondary School when my very dedicated PE teachers recognised I had lots of potential and raw talent – prior to that I just had a lot of energy and needed to run around all the time.  As a young student I was expected to represent the school in all sporting activities and therefore developed an understanding of a wide range of activities.  By the time I reached year 9 I had been selected for the U14 county netball squad and at U16 was competing at county level in basketball and golf too.  At school I played lots of hockey and danced in many productions.  By year 10 I had clearly focused my sights on becoming a PE teacher not least as a result of the inspiration of my own teachers.  At university I specialised in basketball and netball and played club hockey at the weekends.  I currently compete in netball throughout the winter season and rounders and cricket in the summer.

Favourite sport and why?

I couldn’t possibly identify a favourite sport, there’s nothing I don’t like to have a go at.

Why do you love teaching Sport/PE at SHS?

I love teaching PE at SHS because it gives me the opportunity to see all the valuable life skills for students flourish. The need for discipline, commitment, energy, competitiveness and cohesion.  I love the opportunity to inspire the students to invest and be the best they can be at whatever level is appropriate to them.  I love the camaraderie in the department and the opportunity to develop this for the students. They say people that play for a great coach win games but people that play for each other win championships.  It’s this sense of community that fuels our ethos that I love, not just at SHS but across all schools in the Trust.

Your highlight of the SHS sports calendar?

Winter Dance is an opportunity to see a culmination of all the hard work and commitment of the students as they pull together as a cast in a truly inclusive environment, celebrating in everyone’s personal achievement.

Sports Dinner is chance to see our sporting achievements in context. Looking at the bigger pictures truly shows the dedication and success of everyone involved in the PE throughout the year.

Tell us something you don’t think most people know about sport at SHS.

We compete in at least 8 Trust Rallies each year.

Steven Blenkinsop, Junior curriculum PE, football and cricket coach / Assistant Head of Junior School; subject champion for Maths and Computing, JLT

Have you always loved sport/what’s your personal sports story?

From as young as I can remember, sport has always been a huge part of my life; whether playing competitively or going to watch. After graduating as a sports scholar for football from Loughborough University (where we won back to back BUCS national titles!) I have continued to play at a semi-professional level, spending the past ten years in the Welsh Premier League and Cymru North. In the summer months, my attention turns to the cricket season and the constant battle of not throwing my wicket away!

Favourite sport and why?

An impossible choice! All of them!! As I junior, I simply could not choose between football, tennis and cricket, and represented Shropshire in all three. Now, I definitely favour team sports; the friendship, teamwork, collective joy (occasional sadness) and sense of pride that you experience from achieving in a group is priceless. If I were forced to name only one: football… no cricket… I do love watching the rugby… Winter Olympics is on at the moment, curling?… you get the idea!

Why do you love teaching Sport/PE at SHS?

There is a wonderful balance here; our sporting offer is vast and there is something for everyone. Whether at a recreational level or as an elite-level competitor, our pupils are encouraged to develop their teamwork, leadership skills and resilience through a love of sport that hopefully lasts a lifetime.  Following the move to Town Walls, the development of our whole-school football and cricket programs is something to keep an eye on; there are exciting times ahead.

Your highlight of the SHS sports calendar?

Sports day is always a highlight and we have an excellent one here. I love how our pupils are able to balance fierce competitiveness with grace and humility; it’s not something that you see everywhere you go! I would have said the staff football match would be another highlight but that didn’t go so well this year!! (Thank you Mr Bunn!).

Tell us something you don’t think most people know about sport at SHS.

There are a surprising number of secret sports people amongst the staff; runners, gymnasts, golfers, tennis players, equestrians and even a former rally driver!

Sarah-Jane Blenkinsop, Recreation and Team Gymnastics Squads/Year 1 Teacher

Have you always loved sport/what’s your personal sports story?

Gymnastics has always been my passion, both inside and outside of SHS, as well as competing at the World Cheerleading Championships in Florida. I was Sports Secretary at Loughborough University, so love to put my hand to any sport!

Favourite sport and why?

Gymnastics! The benefits of gymnastics are incredible, both physically and mentally, and it offers skill mastery that can be used in a wide range of other sports. The competitive aspect is exhilarating, but equally, seeing a child gain a new skill and the look on their face is what it is all about! It’s incredibly rewarding.

Why do you love teaching Sport/PE at SHS?

Being able to teach sport in environment where we have top class equipment, coupled with such determined, hard working pupils, is an absolute joy!

Your highlight of the SHS sports calendar?

It has to be the British Schools National Gymnastics Championships. We are currently second in Great Britain, and can’t wait to defend this this year!

Tell us something you don’t think most people know about sport at SHS

There is an opportunity for you regardless of your level; whether you want to learn your first forward roll, or master your backward somersault, come and find me! It’s never to late to play/do a sport for the very first time!

Jon High, Founder and coach for SHS Football Club / Geography Teacher

Have you always loved sport/what’s your personal sports story?

Always loved sports – primarily as it mostly outside!

Wonderful to do something that was more ‘natural’ rather than required learning.

Sport has indirectly led me to my career – I worked on summer camps in the USA as a swimming coach and as a football coach and ultimately this morphed into working with young people and teaching.  I still have good friends in the USA as a result of sports coaching over 40 years ago!  My proudest coaching moment was coaching my 7 year old son’s team at Wembley!

Favourite sport and why?

It has to be football. Nothing beats the fast pace, athleticism and variety of skills required.  There is always a role on a football team for anyone who wants to play. One of, if not the most, egalitarian of all  sports.

Why do you love teaching Sport/PE at SHS?

The enthusiasm of the students. Especially to see characters bloom on the pitch who may be otherwise more reserved in the classroom

Your highlight of the SHS sports calendar?

Every Wednesday lunchtime!

Tell us something you don’t think most people know about sport at SHS.

You don’t have to be the world’s greatest athlete to have fun and make friends with SHS sport!