Portland pupils link with Hackney in run-up to Olympics (From Dorset Echo)

Portland pupils link with Hackney in run-up to Olympics

1:30pm Friday 17th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

PUPILS on Portland are to compete against counterparts in London for an Olympic Games-style event.

The students from Royal Manor Arts College will line up in the capital against youngsters from Hackney for the extravaganza in October.

The ‘huge’ event is part of new links between Royal Manor and the Bridge Academy, Hackney, in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympics.

Royal Manor deputy head Rob Russell said: “This is a great opportunity to get young people of all ages, race, gender, and ability working towards common goals and learning to make the most of the opportunities provided for them.”

The students from Royal Manor will compete against schools from all the London boroughs in the ‘multi-disciplinary sporting event’ in October.

Royal Manor students who are training to be sport leaders will work alongside students from London to organise and run the contest.

The links between Royal Manor and the Bridge Academy were forged after an initial visit to London in March by Mr Russell and director of student learning Angus Dawson.

Three members of the London Borough of Hackney Education Authority and Olympic Development Team also visited Royal Manor to develop the partnerships between RMAC and London schools in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics.

During their visit the representatives from Hackney toured the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, watched Olympic athletes training and visited Westfield Technology College to develop further links in the area.

Exchange visits between students at Royal Manor and the Bridge Academy are planned to start next year, following on from an E-pen pal project and the October event.

There will also be partnerships between Portland primary schools and two Hackney schools located within a short walk of the Olympic Park.