Olympic Day Fun Run 2025

Last Friday the entire school participated in our Olympic Day Fun Run. This is one of the greatest sporting spectacles on the planet as thousands of people participate in runs across the world to celebrate the Olympic spirit. Students and staff walked, jogged and ran the 1.5km route around our field in the bright sunshine after a short procession of nations, a special presentation and a reading of the Olympic Oath.

This year we invited former Sheldon student and accomplished para-football coach, Harry Smith, to speak to our students about how sports have shaped his life. Harry is currently the SEN Lead for the Worcester Warriors Foundation, an organisation that uses the power of sport to engage and inspire people to live an active, healthy and rewarding lifestyle.

He has been involved in disability sports for over a decade, coaching elite-level amputee football and earning two caps for England as part of the coaching team for the para-football teams. Harry credits being a Sports Ambassador as helping set him on a path of using sports to help the wider community. It gave him an opportunity to develop his interest in coaching across a wide range of sports. He spoke about how he got to where he is today by asking questions and asking to be included. This tenacity allowed him to follow his interests, leading the way to new experiences that helped him build a career in disability sports. He encouraged students to keep following the opportunities presented to them so that they can build their experience and ‘get more keys to open more doors’. He explained that while you may not know what path you want go down now, if you follow your interests, the path will become clear.

“Keep striving”, Harry told students. “You all have a bright future. Always back yourself. Always be brave. Say ‘yes’ because dreams can come true.”

We also asked that parents and students make a voluntary contribution on the day of the run to the Bristol Children's Hospital Grand Appeal. If you would still like to donate, you may do so via ParentPay.

Sheldon has had an exceptional year in athletics. Thirty-eight students competed at the Area Athletics trials with 17 coming in first or second in their event to qualify for the Wiltshire County Championships, representing North Wiltshire. Six students then went on to qualify to represent Wiltshire at the South West Championships and an incredible four students will compete in Birmingham next weekend at the English Schools National Championships!

This includes Otis (Y12 ) in Senior Boys High Jump, Adam (Y13) in Senior Boys Hammer, Sophie (Y10) in Inter Girls 3000m and Ciaran (Y10) in Inter Boys Hammer. We wish them the best of luck and are proud of all the incredible Sheldon athletes that have competed this season!

We hope to see the Olympic ethos on the track next week at our annual Sports Day - and every day – as our students strive to be swifter, higher and faster! Sheldon Sports Day track events will be held Wednesday 8 July.