Olympics comes to Fearns

Reporter: Catherine Smyth
Date online: 19 July 2010

ENTERPRISING youngsters learned all about the 2012 Olympics and even got the chance to pit themselves against Olympic athletes. 

Fearns Community Sports College year 10 students took part in a series of challenging cross-curricular workshops as part of Enterprise Day. 

The British Olympic Foundation organised the event and pupils learned about financing the games, worked out a timeline for works, designed their own stadium from paper and glue, studied marketing and advertising and took part in team quizzes. Besides learning the theory behind the games, the 157 students also participated in a series of sporting challenges. They undertook a 5m sprint, speed rowing, tested their reaction skills and also measured how hard they could kick a ball, after first estimating how they thought they would achieve. 

Their results were then measured against the best athletes. Shaun Taylor said: “We have been learning all about the business aspects and how it all comes together. There is a lot that I never thought about and the business workshop was interesting. I also managed the sprint in 2.4 seconds and I was pleased with my time. I will be watching the Olympics.” 

Assistant headteacher Sarah Yerkess said: “At the end of year 11 the work they have all completed on enterprise day will go towards their GCSE in Enterprise and Employability.  “The idea is that, through a series of challenges, pupils learn more about the world of work and how they will fit in once they complete their studies and have to look for a job. At the end of the course they should be more employable.”