Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 19 June 2008

OLYMPIC gymnast and Commonwealth Games gold medal holder Craig Heap will visit Cockermouth School today to talk to pupils on the Living for Sport programme.

The programme, sponsored by Sky, includes six keys to success and helps pupils in areas such as mental toughness, achievement, people skills, sport and life knowledge, breaking barriers and planning for success.

The Cockermouth pupils have been focusing on a range of skills to help their development as part of their transition from junior to secondary education.

“The programme has included friendship skills, anger management, organisation skills, revisions, homework and listening skills,” said special educational needs co-ordinator, Barbara Davis, who is also a champion triathlon athlete.

“The pupils have met each week as well as participating in a sporting activity. These have included trampoline, tri-golf and table tennis. The sports are chosen by the pupils as part of their development in decision making skills as well as actively encouraging them to be involved in sport and experiencing the benefits that sport can bring.

“The programme ran for two terms and the reward for the pupils was a celebration day out at Center Parcs. The pupils have gained enormously from this programme and they will be thrilled to meet Craig. He will be a great mentor to them.”

Craig became the first person to captain England to a gymnastics gold win at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and won gold at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.