Southwark school second in the country at English Schools National Athletics finals

Ark Globe Academy junior boys athletics team were runners up in the ESAA English Schools’ Track and Field Cup 2023 national finals earlier this month.

After qualifying for the final with the second highest points total in the country, 18 of Ark Globe Academy’s team set off to Chelmsford to complete against the top 12 schools in the country, many of which are established state, grammar, and independent schools. The English Schools’ Athletic Association was formed in 1925, allowing schools and athletes to compete at regional, national, and international level.

Ark Globe was welcomed as a new school to the finals and were the only inner London state school to get to the national final out of more than 650 that entered this year’s competition.

In the competitions 42-year history, Ark Globe is only the second inner London school ever to make the podium in the junior boys final and the points total achieved on the day makes their performance the best by an inner London school in this national competition.

Executive principal Matt Jones OBE said: “Students’ performance and conduct were brilliant – officials from the English Schools Athletics Association came up to tell me how great and polite our boys were.

“Our team had pride in their community and were justifiably delighted about their achievement. The whole experience has created lifelong memories for everyone involved.”

Captains Ezekiel Olu-Micah and Jomiloju Hughes collected the ESAA plate. A special mention goes out to Jomiloju Hughes, Year 8, who jumped 12.71m in the triple jump competition. This broke the championship record,
James Gardner, director of sport, said: “I’m incredibly proud of each and every athlete. I trust this is a moment that will stick with Jomiloju for the rest of his career!”

The junior boys team accumulated 554 points across 80m hurdles, 100m, 200m, 300m, 800m, 1500m, long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot, discus, javelin, hammer, and relay.

The team’s performance is even more impressive when you consider the fact that the school site does not have a single blade of grass, let alone a sports field on which to practise.

What is equally impressive, is the fact that none of Globe’s athletes attend an athletics club outside of school. They have learned everything through curriculum PE lessons, extra-curricular mornings, lunch time and after school clubs and at local, regional, and national school competitions.

Jones said: “Just three years ago this would have been unthinkable, but with the right adults to inspire our students, the support of the wider staff community the whole Globe Team have achieved something special.”