Pelham Primary School launched its 21st Century Legacy programme this week (24 Jan) to help children realise their full potential.

Part of a national campaign to be rolled out to schools across the country, the programme called ‘Be the best you can be’ is designed to inspire, engage and empower students at the school.

To launch the scheme, Paralympic 1500m runner Tim Prendergast spoke at the school assembly about how, with hard work and dedication, anything is achievable. Following morning assembly, he visited each class to speak to the children about how he has overcome his own hurdle of visual impairment to become one of the best in the world at his sport.

Cabinet member for education Councillor Peter Walker was present at the launch.
The ‘Be the best you can be’ programme will be integrated with the school’s curriculum. The children will be given the opportunity to discover and develop the skills they need to pursue their dreams and achieve success in life.

Maria Keenan, Headteacher of Pelham Primary School said: “I was determined that our school would be one of the schools to benefit from the programme as it begins to roll out nationally. I am pleased Tim Pendergast was able to help us celebrate at our launch and look forward to delivering this exciting and transformational programme.”

Councillor Peter Walker said: “It is great to have a programme like this in one of Merton’s schools. I hope it inspires children to perform over and above the level they feel they can achieve.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

21st Century Legacy was established as a charity to deliver a schools’ programme, Be the Best you can Be! to inspire and give practical support to young people to achieve their dreams. The charity was set up by former Olympic gold medallist Dr David Hemery CBE.

· The Charity’s Trustees are: Lynne Evans (Chair) MBE, Olympian and former chair of Archery GB; David Moorcroft OBE, Olympian and former CEO of UK Athletics and owner and consultant at sports consultancy Pointfourone; Jan Paterson, Director Olympic Relations / CEO, British Olympic Foundation; Mark Sawyer, General Manager Group Business Development, Xstrata, the Charity’s cornerstone sponsor; and Sir John Whitmore, former motor racing champion, pioneer of coaching in business and Chairman of Performance Consultants International.

· The Charity has a number of Olympian and other high profile Ambassadors including: Ade Adepitan MBE, Michaela Breeze MBE, Darren Campbell MBE, Chris Cook, Steph Cook MBE, Danny Crates, Craig Heap,Toby Garbett, Joe Glanfield, Anna Hemmings MBE, Katharine Merry, Nicola Minichiello, Dr Alison Mowbray, Karen Pickering MBE, Tim Prendergast, Ben Quilter, Alan Rapley, Brendan Reilly, Mark Richardson, Ian Rose, Bryan Steel, Leon Taylor, Anna Turney, Campbell Walsh, Adam Whitehead, Gail Emms, Rachael Mackenzie.