On Thursday 22nd May, the PE Department at Sedbergh School hosted the inaugural Year 9 Inspire Day, a dynamic and immersive event designed to broaden pupils’ understanding of sport beyond the physical and competitive aspects. Set across a full day of workshops, practical activities and inspirational talks, the event aimed to ignite curiosity, enhance awareness, and inspire ambition among our Year 9 cohort. The Inspire Day was created to highlight the wider dimensions of sport — including psychology, nutrition, skill acquisition, and career pathways — in a way that was hands-on, thought-provoking and motivational. By combining theory with practice and inviting elite guest speakers, the day offered a fresh perspective on what it means to engage with sport both now and in the future.
Pupils rotated through a series of high-impact workshops, each led by members of the PE Department:
- Psychology & Mental Strength A session focused on the psychological resilience required in sport, helping pupils explore how mindset, focus and confidence influence performance.
- Nutrition & Recovery Pupils learned about the importance of nutrition in recovery and athletic performance, before taking part in a practical session making healthy recovery smoothies.
- Motor Skills Under Pressure A skill-based workshop that challenged pupils to develop and refine their movement skills in pressure-based scenarios — simulating the demands of competitive sport.
The day was enriched by two exceptional guest speakers, who brought with them a wealth of elite sporting experience and personal insight:
- Nick Gleeson A 2x Olympic bobsleigh athlete and serving member of the Parachute Regiment, Nick spoke powerfully about the military pathway into sport and the parallels between elite performance in both fields. His message on discipline, teamwork and resilience resonated strongly with pupils.
- Mica Moore A dual-career athlete and Olympic bobsledder and former international sprinter, Mica shared her remarkable journey through sport, including switching national representation to Jamaica and her evolution into a social media influencer. Her story of adaptability, identity, and breaking barriers was both inspiring and relatable.
The day was exceptionally well received by pupils, who were fully engaged in each workshop and energised by the speakers. Many reported feelings newly motivated to explore sport through a broader lens — considering psychological preparation, nutrition, career routes, and their own potential beyond school sport.
Staff and facilitators were equally impressed by the positive attitude and open-mindedness shown by the Year 9 cohort. The event successfully challenged pupils to “think outside of the game” and offered a memorable stepping stone in their sporting and personal development.