SPORTING superstar Rebecca Daniel hit both the local and national headlines this year after being selected to play for the Under 16’s England Hockey team – and then contributing to their victories.

This summer, 16-year-old Rebecca achieved yet further success, albeit in a different field (no pun intended!), by achieving success in all of her GCSEs, including three A* grades and two A grades.

Rebecca, who lives with her family near Newmarket, has been at King’s Ely since joining King’s Ely Junior in Year 5, and is now in King’s Ely Sixth Form.

To describe her as an all-rounder would be something of an understatement as, like the majority of King’s Ely students, Rebecca has certainly taken full advantage of the extra-curricular activities on offer.

Rebecca said: “Since joining King’s Ely in Year 5, I have enjoyed playing lots of sport, including playing for the school in the Hockey, Netball, Tennis and Rounders teams.

“I have been captain of the 1st Hockey team this year and I have participated in Athletics and Cross Country from County level all the way to the English Schools Cross Country and Track and Field level.

“King’s Ely has been very supportive and understanding when it comes to allowing me to have time off school to train and play in matches; and everyone always congratulates me on my successes.”

As far as Rebecca’s sporting success is concerned, accolades include National Prep School Champion 800m (Years 7 and 8), Cambridgeshire Schools Cross Country Champion twice, Suffolk Cross Country Champion (three times qualifying her for the mini marathon), Anglian Cross Country Champion, English Schools Cross Country Champion (19th in a field of 350 and despite competing a year early!) and she plays National League Hockey for Cambridge City alongside Helen Richardson-Walsh, Olympic Gold Medallist.

Rebecca has also been an active member of Ely Scheme; the outdoor education programme unique to King’s Ely, a member of King’s Voices (the Junior School Choir) in Years 7 and 8, and has played the French Horn, participating in music tours to France and Belgium with the school.

Not surprisingly, Rebecca envisages studying a sports-related degree at university after completing her A Levels but for now she is enjoying everything that the Sixth Form at King’s Ely has to offer.

She said: “I feel really grateful to have had a fantastic group of teachers who undoubtedly helped me achieve the GCSE grades that I did. My teachers provided me with extra support sessions in order to catch up on any work missed due to my Hockey commitments. Balancing my school work and Hockey was tricky but managed well by me and my teachers.

“I decided to stay on at King’s Ely for Sixth Form as I genuinely believe it will prepare me well for university life and the future. There are many study periods which are enabling me to complete my school work whilst still training twice a week with Cambridge City Hockey Club. The Sixth Form is also a very social environment, which I feel creates a good balance.”

 

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