Colin Jackson Visits Queensmill School

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Celebrity ambassador meets teachers and encourages pupils

Former champion hurdler Colin Jackson delighted pupils and staff with a special guest appearance at Queensmill School in Clancarty Road.

Colin, an Olympic silver medal winner who is now a BBC television presenter, played with the children and encouraged them as they took part in athletics and games. He also met staff and teachers at the school.

Queensmill recently won a UK Skills Council’s National Training Award for having the best small employer training programme and Colin was visiting the school as the programme’s celebrity ambassador.

Colin's visit on March 31 was part of an exciting week for the school, which specialises in education for children with autism. On April 2, its pupils took part in World Autism Awareness Day with a series of activities.

 

Each class organised its own event including a sponsored riverside walk, a tricycle and bike ride around the playground, and a mini fun-run.

Head teacher Jude Ragan said: “We used the day to focus on several things: for the children to have fun and to get used to something that is a bit different from their normal routine, and also to spread the word about autism and make people a little more aware of it.”

 April 6, 2009