Olympic star’s lessons in leadership

Date published: 02 December 2009

A medal winning Olympic cyclist helped put students on the right track to success when he visited a Rawtenstall school during a Leadership Training event.

Bryan Steel, silver medallist, was a guest speaker at Alder Grange Community & Technology School when it hosted a leadership activity day for pupils from schools across Lancashire.

Speaking to over 100 pupils, Bryan shared his experience of how he changed the course of his life through sport. It was part of an awareness-raising session on the seven Olympic values.

Alder Grange Community & Technology School Deputy Head Jo Griffiths, said: “We were delighted that a talented athlete like Bryan was able to come along. He was a real inspiration ––he even brought along his silver Olympic medal for them to try on.”

Year 9 pupils from 13 schools were involved in the student leadership programme, organised by the SSAT (Specialist Schools and Academies Trusts) and LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) – responsible for preparing and staging the 2012 London Olympics.

Added Jo: “The activity day centered around student leadership and the pupils developed ideas for a leadership project that they could take back to their own school. The pupils had a great time coming up with ideas on the seven Olympic values – Friendship, Courage, Determination, Excellence, Equality, Respect and Inspiration.”

“We invest in a number of activities like this which give the students their own voice, as they are a great way to engage pupils and improve their educational experiences.”


SSAT is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation, dedicated to raising levels of achievement in secondary education. It has over 5,600 members and is a registered charity.

SSAT works with headteachers, teachers and students to encourage them to develop and share new and effective teaching and learning practice, and to improve schools to raise standards and levels of achievement. In practice, headteachers and teachers design, lead and deliver its work, and continue to develop what SSAT does.