To think that the Girls Grammar school (Newstead Wood) is soley responsible for the all-round women that both Dina Asher Smith and Emma Raducanu have become.

[peewitsandy]

I suggest that the sole reason, both Emma Raducanu and Dina Asher Smith are such well rounded individuals and of cause brilliant sportswomen, is down to their single sex grammar school educations.

I say this because I notice a number of posters suggestive that single sex grammar schools are highly toxic, thus destroying many girls.
I have noted how over the years that Newstead Wood has been referenced regularly, for being a toxic environment, like Emma and Dina this is my old school. Finally, perhaps controversially I believe that if Emma or Dina had been educated in a mixed Comprehensive school, neither would have ever reached the heights both have or will.

Your post comes across as s bit goading, OP.

@accentdusoleil

Don't most schools have some successful alumni? Even the roughest and toughest schools have pupils that go on to be successful in sports, and other careers

What is the purpose of your post, OP?

I've just googled my old schools and... not much. Unless you count Welsh MPs and someone who translated some poetry into Welsh in the 1900s.

Just googled my old school and under notable pupils it says "rosemary west, serial killer" 😐. Not sure how that bodes well for all the thousands of students that have passed through the doors since then.

DD is a very amateur sportsperson but if she ever got to play for England/Wales I would be pretty upset if someone suggested her school was the sole reason for her success. I would like to think that all the flipping miles I do for training and (Sunday morning!) matches would have contributed a little bit…

@SecretKeeper1

Clearly, the school doesn’t teach grammar particularly well, but at least they seem to have decent PE teachers. So that’s something, I suppose.

😂😂😂

No - their sporting success will be solely down to their families support (financial and time). Nothing to do with the school.

Solely responsible? Do you actually know what that word means? Just the school and nothing else?

So why hasn't this miraculous school produced many, many more famous women if it's some kind of fountain of greatness?

Not down to good genes, athletic talent, drive to succeed, mental commitment, supportive families, great coaches outside the school environment, money, and the good luck to remain healthy and without career ending injuries? None of that counts, just the school?

Aye right hen.

Emma Raducanu, 18, told Vogue she was 'very shy' as a child when growing up
Said she felt like the 'odd-one-out' because of how much sport she played
She credited her mother for helping her build her confidence

There you go - interview with Vogue apparently.

Put it this way

If im not in dds oscar speech im gonna be pissed

What utter bollocks. Dina Asher-Smith’s success is down to her joining Blackheath & Bromley AC as a Junior. In the same way Darryl Nita’s success is due to her starting her athletics career at Cambridge Harriers. They ran on the same Kent/South East England circuit at the same time, regularly competing against each other. Both are outstanding athletics clubs.

Source: DS runs for one of the aforementioned clubs on the same circuit. Both clubs currently have Juniors nationally ranked in the top 50.

Well we don’t have a huge number of world famous sports people across all disciplines. It’s concentrated in the hands of a small number of schools and institutions.

I’m more bothered by the woeful funding levels meaning we don’t have more Dina Ashers

Newstead Woods will be like many other grammars - the preserve of the comfortable middle classes who can afford to move and tutor their kids to the hilt, with the odd token “working class” family to make it seem equitable.

Children who reach this kind of success in sport at a young age probably won’t be doing PE in school anyway. My DP coaches elite sport in children and all of his clients from about 9 upwards come out of non-compulsory lessons such as PE for extra private practice.

I wish NWSFG had made me a well-rounded person!

I know an alumna of Newstead Wood who ended up in prison for a serious offence. Is the school solely responsible for the woman she became?

Not standard co-ed comp for my kids.
There’s a girl in Y8 who - barring injury - you’ll see at the next Olympics.
You can’t even do her sport - gymnastics - at this school. Her mother is a high level coach and owns the local club, so… no, must be the school 🤣

There's a boy at my kids comp who competes for GB and he doesn't do school PE. It's a sport that's not even taught in schools.

I suspect that his parents taking him to practice and investing in the right kit is one of many factors in his success that are more important than the school. The school's biggest contribution will be where he meets his friends and gets his educational qualifications.

Are you in your prime OP?

@TheRebelle

Well I think the school I went to was excellent, does everyone agree?

I agree.

Strange post to single out a school as the one and only defining factor in 2 talented and hardworking individuals' success.

I don't personally think NW is that great. I live in the area and seen the girls' behaviour. Also academically it isn't St Olave's level (or anywhere near other London girls grammar standard) they take in the tutored and brightest girls in a large borough - clearly not much value add.

I went to the same secondary as Bukayo Saka, who has just played for England. I haven't played for England though. No idea why, surely the school should have got me on the team?

Johnny Vegas went to my school.

The best PE teacher in the world is not going to produce a brilliant sportswoman on approx 2 hours teaching a week.

It will be tennis club/althetics club/gymnastics club and the sacrifices made by the parents, getting up at the crack of dawn most weekends to drive to competitions not to mention funding all the kit required etc.

As for grammar churning out well rounded girls it's a moot point, I know several girls who it's been very successful for equally a few where it's been an absolute disaster which has caused long lasting issues and a few who have done just 'ok'.

I went to a girls’ grammar school and can confirm that I am neither well-rounded (unless you’re talking about body shape, that is) nor blessed with an iota of sporting ability.

I work with/have worked with coaches that trained Emma, her tennis success is 100% not down to the school.
Natural ability, parent input & money and very good tennis coaches - sorry but it wasn’t the PE department

The only advantage for her tennis career i can see ER having attended Newstead Wood is that her tennis club is on the grounds, making the commute easier.

Similarly,not all Newstead Wood girls are world class Clarinettists either.