A Lincolnshire school is quietly producing some of the country’s top sporting talent.
The latest is 6ft 7ins England Rugby International Ollie Chessum, who is in line to earn a second international cap this weekend.
Nick Law, headmaster of Carre’s Grammar School in Sleaford, said: “We’re obviously very proud. It’s an amazing experience for Ollie to represent England and an inspiration for the students and the staff.”
However, PE Teacher James Offer says this wasn’t something they could have foreseen during his school days: “Never would I have thought at fifteen he’d play international rugby.
“It just shows playing top level sport is about how much you keep progressing and Ollie’s worked incredibly hard to keep improving.”
Along with Ollie, the school also played it’s part in developing younger brother Lewis who has been part of the England U20’s Six-Nations side.
“He’s got a special talent has Lewis, a natural sportsman and he’s six foot nine inches tall,” added Mr Law.
“He’s not played as much this season as he broke his leg being dropped by someone – and that someone was his brother.”
And it’s not just the Chessum boys who have gone onto achieve sporting success. Others include Joe Dunderdale, British javelin champion, who went on to compete in the Commonwealth Games.
Modestly tucked away in a corner of the school sits a classroom, it’s walls covered in framed photos of success stories of years gone by. “We’ve got these pictures of former pupils who went on to international success, which provides inspiration and a legacy for students who come here,” says James.
