Latest news from Loughborough University
| 18 October 2006 | PR 06/118 |
Sporting superstars of the future come to Loughborough University
Sporting superstars of the future will be coming to Loughborough University today (Wednesday, October 18) to sample some of its world class sporting facilities.
The children, aged between 10 and 11, have been handpicked from schools across Newark for their keen interest in a variety of sports. Throughout the day they will take part in a number of specialist coaching sessions, as well as a seminar on sports psychology. To finish the event the pupils will watch one of the University’s many sports teams in action.
Ryan Greenwood, a student at The Grove School and Specialist Science College in Newark, said: “I’m so excited about this opportunity - it’s something I’m never going to forget. Loughborough is the number one sports university in England and I’ve got a chance to go there for a day.”
The event has been organised by the University’s Widening Participation (WP) team to try and show children the many benefits of continuing their education. WP officer Kay Bridger said: “We really want to show these young people what opportunities are out there for further education. We are hoping the ‘wow’ factor of Loughborough University’s state-of-the-art sports facilities will encourage these children to fulfil their potential.”
Ian Gaunt, the University’s Community Sport Development Officer, added: “Sport is an excellent way of showing young people that there are many aspects to University life, not just academic studies.”
ENDS
For all media enquiries contact:
- Judy Smyth, Loughborough University Public Relations Office,
T: 01509 228697, E: J.L.Smyth@lboro.ac.uk
Notes to editors
1. Photographers are welcome to attend the sports day. To organise a suitable time contact Ian Gaunt by calling 07979 483441
2. There are 50 children attending the event who come from the following schools in the Newark area:
The Grove School and Specialist Science College
John Hunt Junior School
Chuter Ede Primary school
Farndon St Peter’s Primary School
Coddington Primary School
3. Loughborough has an established reputation for excellence in teaching
and research, strong links with i ndustry, and unrivalled sporting achievement.
Assessments of teaching quality by the Quality Assurance Agency place
it in the top flight of UK universities; the National Student Survey ranked
Loughborough equal first among full-time students; and industry highlights
the University in its top five for graduate recruitment. Around 40% of
Loughborough’s income is for research, and 60% for teaching. The
University has been awarded five Queen's Anniversary Prizes: for its collaboration
with aerospace and automotive companies such as BAE Systems, Ford and
Rolls Royce; for its work in developing countries; for pioneering research
in optical engineering; for its world-leading role in sports research,
education and development; and for its outstanding work in evaluating
and helping to develop social policy-related programmes.
In 2006 Loughborough celebrates the 40th anniversary of its University
Charter, awarded on 19 April 1966 in recognition of the excellence achieved
by Loughborough College of Advanced Technology and its predecessor Colleges.
Loughborough University of Technology was renamed Loughborough University
in 1996.