Roedean was delighted to welcome our inspirational Sports Ambassador, Helen Richardson-Walsh, back to Roedean this week. We are so incredibly fortunate to have such a remarkable woman, who won Olympic Gold in Rio in 2016, so closely connected to the school.

We welcomed fifty Year 5 and 6 pupils to Roedean this Hockey Experience Day, and, despite the stormy weather first thing, they had a wonderful day – fortunately, the conditions cleared up, and our visitors were able to take full advantage of our sports facilities from 11:00!

At the start of the day, the girls focused on a carousel of indoor hockey skills, strength and conditioning, and a video of analysis of the Olympic final match in Rio 2016 where Helen won Olympic Gold. After break, they braved the elements to go outdoors onto the Astro to hone their skills. The sessions were run by Roedean Staff, while Helen moved around the groups giving some tips. It also included a specific session for goalkeepers.

Both our visitors and the current Roedean Sports Scholars were fortunate enough to enjoy an inspiring presentation given by Helen. She spoke about her own experiences in the sporting world, offering our scholars a profound understanding of the grit, determination, and sacrifices that underpin a successful athletic journey. Helen even passed around her Olympic medals, and the feedback for the event has been very positive.

Our 1^st Hockey Team enjoyed a masterclass at Roedean with Olympic Gold Medallist Helen Richardson-Walsh. The girls were so inspired! “Feel the fear and do it anyway”. Thank you Roedean School. – Brambletye School

The day ended with mini-matches on the Astro, where the girls could put into practice everything they had learned during the day.

The Hockey Experience Day with Helen Richardson-Walsh was a resounding success, leaving an indelible mark on the participants and further solidifying Roedean’s reputation as a hub for sports excellence and inspiration. The school looks forward to future collaborations with Helen and other distinguished figures who contribute to the development and enrichment of student’s educational journey.

If you wish to book the next Hockey day or learn about one of the other experience days we offer, make sure you head over to the Visit Us page, or visit our scholarship page to apply for one of our many beneficial scholarship schemes.