Mount Pleasant EC, Heacham has been an absolute diamond of a club link, having set up the link with Alderman Peel High School and the North Norfolk School Sports Partnership (NNSSP) last year; so far we have had three extremely successful horse riding programmes. Through the NNSSP and Big Lottery Funding we are able to fund a series of horse riding lessons for non horsey students at APHS who have little self esteem or currently do little structured physical activity outside their PE lessons. The team at Mount Pleasant EC are amazing; Colleen, Di and Paul Mathias have an admirable nature and give high quality lessons which ensure every student achieves and has fun. The students are sad when the programme is over and as a result some now even go to Mount Pleasant EC at the weekends!

 

This is has been a fantastic and highly rewarding opportunity; learning to control and care for an animal much larger than the students has had a profound affect on their confidence and learning and is a great feeling for the students to experience. Not only have these students been able to build a honest partnership with their horse they are able to work towards the Association of British Riding Schools Introductory Tests, allowing them to achieve an award at the end of the programme.

 

There is no doubt this is a treasured club link, and I look forward to continuing our partnership and working towards our goal of getting more young people involved in sport and trying to find their sport.

 

We owe a heartfelt thank you to the Mount Pleasant EC team and not forgetting of course all of the wonderful horses.

 

Kirsty Pitcher

PE Teacher and School Sports Coordinator

Alderman Peel High School