The Olympic Flame Burns Bright at St Marks 

During the Spring term, St Mark’s experienced a day with a difference when Roger Black and Steve Backley, both former Olympic medallists, came to work with our students for the day.  These two outstanding Olympians led welcome assemblies, gave motivational talks toYear 11 students and put a selection of our budding athletes through their paces with some special sports coaching.

During the morning, students in the coaching groups designed Olympic banners and created an enormous mural, on display in our wonderful new hall.  Afternoon activities included a range of workshops, led by professional performers of rap, street dance, singing, dancing, fashion parade and drumming, as students prepared for a performance of the Black Eyed Peas, ‘I Got a Feeling.’

The day ended with St Mark’s Academy students performing the closing ceremony in front of two hundred delegates from Lloyds Bank. The Lloyds staff, who held their Human Resources conference at St Mark’s, had used part of the day to run inspirational sessions for our students. 

As the Olympic flame was lit to mark the start of the ceremony, students performed to a standing ovation from the audience and the giant mural and banners were unveiled.  Dreams, goals and aspirations came together in a moment that we will all remember.