As a Sports College we are excited to be part of the Youth Sports Trust 'International Inspiration' Programme.  We work with our partners at the Lephola Secondary School in Free State, South Africa, to share good practice and take an innovative approach to PE, thereby ensuring a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympics.

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Latest News of our partnership:

In June 10 Sports Leaders and 2 Educators from Lephola School made a reciprical visit to Sir Frederic Osborn School.  Below is an account of their week written by Becca Oliver in Year 10.

Sunday 24th of June was the start of an eventful week for our link school Lephola from South Africa.  After a 12 hour delay the students and their 2 Educators finally landed safely at Heathrow Airport and were met by Mrs Mitcherson and some of our Sports Leaders who then took them to their hotel in Welwyn Garden City.

Monday morning was then the start of a busy week.  After meeting the staff and being introduced in a Year 7 & 8 assembly they were thrown in at the deep end and asked to plan an athletics challenge with our Sports Leaders to lead to Years 7 & 8 before going out to Panshanger, a local Primary school to lead an afternoon of sport.  Monday evening we took the Lephola students on a tour of the town before relaxing and playing a few games.

During the day on Tuesday we had our Annual Sports Day in which all the students got involved.  As a team the Lephola students competed against Year 10 students in a range of sports from Rounders and Cricket to Tug of War and Volleyball.  The afternoon was spent rafting at Stanborough Lakes before setting off for a game of bowling in Stevenage in the evening.

On Wednesday it was an early start as the group headed off to London for a guided tour on an open topped bus before experiencing the '4D Experience' and having a flight on the London Eye.  It was then a relaxing evening back at school playing Rounders and Football, eating Pizza and Strawberries and Cream.

On Thursday the students were lucky enough to go to the finals of of the Herts School Games and the University of Hertfordhire where they watched the opening ceremony before having a tour of the different sporting finals.  In the evening the group went to the Campus West Cinema to watch a showing of 'Dark Shadows' starring Johnny Depp before spending time in Money Hole Park experiencing a  traditional  'take away' Fish and Chip supper.

Friday was the last day which was spent in school observing lessons before having a 'Farewell Assembly' in Osborn Hall which was full of music and dance, celebrating the relationship between Lephola and SFO. 

It was a packed week of activities and many friendships were bonded.

Previous News:

On 15th October 2011 Mrs Mitcherson, Mr Baranowski and 10 Sports Leaders visited Lephola School to deliver a Sports Festival - Click here to read more and see video below of their visit.

 

 

Previous News:

On 2nd May 2011 members of staff, Miss I Hunt and Mr M Simmons visited Lephola School to deliver some training.  Below is a brief account of their trip

"I was given an amazing opportunity to visit our partner school, Lephola Secondary School in the town of Welkom in Free State, South Africa.

Mr Simmons, Sports Co-ordinator and I went out to Lephola as part of the International Inspiration Project set up by the Youth Sport Trust. Our job at this stage of the programme was to deliver some training in Physical Education to the staff and young leaders at Lephola. Currently the school does not have Physical Education embedded into their curriculum due to financial constraints, a lack of equipment and suitable facilities.

We spent a week in their school delivering a range of sports, some of which they had never heard of or ever had the opportunity to play. They included Basketball, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Boccia, Multi Skills activities, Cricket, Tag Rugby and Handball. The staff and the students learnt how to play the sports and how to deliver them to the rest of school. This will give them the opportunity to develop their students’ health and sporting ability in a range of activities.

The experience was incredibly eye opening seeing most of their students walking over an hour to school each day and wanting to learn so they can make better lives for themselves. It made me so incredibly thankful for the opportunities our students have at our school, including all of the activities in which our students are able to participate.

So although students at Lephola school do have less materialistically than our students here, they are welcoming, friendly and appreciative of what they have. Hopefully now they have more expertise in different activities they will be able to deliver high quality PE to all of their students, giving them a chance to be the best they can be.