PRIMARY pupils were left bouncing when they arrived at a Year 6 transition event and ended up being coached by the principal in the skills of table tennis.
Jonathan Lumb, principal at Haughton Academy, which is part of the Education Village, Darlington, and top schoolboy player Luke Robinson spent the day with children from local primary schools who were given a taste of life at the big school.
Mr Lumb began his teaching career in PE and is a qualified table tennis coach. He said: “This gives the Year 6s the chance to enjoy themselves, develop their skills and self-confidence and get an insight of what life in secondary education will be like next year.
“It’s great for me to meet all our future Year 7s and shows them that I am a teacher as well as being principal. Everyone left with a smile on their face.”
Year 11 student Luke has been playing table tennis for more than four years and is a member of the Ormesby Club. He is ranked 74th nationally in the U18 category and hopes to be in the top 20 one day.
The 15-year-old, who wants to be a political journalist, said: “It has been great and everyone has really enjoyed themselves.”
The three-day transition event offered hundreds of primary school pupils the chance to experience lessons and a host of activities including boxercise, rugby with coaches from the RFU and Mowden RUFC, tennis, dodgeball, hockey, football and cricket.
A number of former students returned to help out including Tia Hans, 16, who said: “I really enjoyed being at Haughton and am delighted to come back to help with the transition event.”