This week’s #FascinatingFactFriday is about Teacher of Physics at King’s Ely Senior, Ms Sue-Ellen Godde!
Did you know that Ms Godde plays touch rugby for England?
Ms Godde, who is Housemistress of Withburga House (one of our Senior girls’ day houses) and our Head of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, plays in the England Touch Women’s 35 squad.
Ms Godde said: “I started playing touch rugby at university when I was 21-years-old. When I moved to Cambridge, I joined the touch team there. We played in the National Touch Series, which is played all around the country and is a national club competition. I was scouted by other England players and encouraged to trial for England when eligible. I trialled and was selected for the England Mixed Open side, and I began earning my caps from there. I have played in both mixed and women’s teams for the past eleven years.”
When asked what her proudest achievements in the sport are to date, Ms Godde said it is winning two World Cup Bronze medals, and achieving fifty caps when in Malaysia for the 2019 World Cup.
The Women’s 35’s squad’s next tournament is the 2024 Touch World Cup in Nottingham in July, at which Ms Godde is hoping to secure a spot. She usually plays link or middle.
When asked what she enjoys most about the sport, Ms Godde said: “I enjoy the challenge of touch rugby. It requires a high level of fitness and I have the ability to play at the highest level. It is a great sport for all ages and for all levels. It is also very social and I have made many friends along the way.”
Ms Godde says that skills she learns on the pitch transfer to her role in the classroom and day house too. She said: “I have to be disciplined, organised and work within a team in order to achieve the best possible outcome. These are all traits you need to be a teacher; work with a range of people and all try to achieve the best outcome for our students. I think you need to be passionate in whatever you do and luckily for me I am passionate about playing touch rugby and being a teacher! I hope I can inspire the girls in my House to follow their passions and to keep active!”