Deaf News: Exeter Deaf Academy wins National Deaf Schools Sports Day

Exeter Deaf Academy have won a nation-wide track and field competition for Deaf schools.

The annual National Deaf Schools Track and Field Sports Day took place on Wednesday 5 July at Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Organised by local Deaf school Heathlands, the competition saw 7 schools from across the country come together to compete in a variety of track and field events.

The group of 12 students and 7 members of staff had a long day, setting off from Exeter at 6am to reach the venue.
Teacher Nick Edmunds said; ‘We’re really proud of them. The PE teachers from Heathlands were really impressed by their sports technique and could tell they had trained hard. They were well-behaved and a credit to Exeter Deaf Academy. It was a long, hot day but everyone gave their all.’

The day saw 9 events in total: 1500m, 800m, 400m, 200m and 100m running races; high jump; long jump; shot put and a 4x100m relay. Exeter Deaf Academy students earned a total of 900 points across the event, almost double the points earned for second place. Students competed in either Under-14s or Under-16s categories for each event, with Exeter winning 9 golds and 14 silvers across the categories.

Nick said: ‘Our students had a great day, interacting with other students from a number of schools. Some made new friends and others caught up with old ones – it was a great social event as well as a sporting one.

‘They were chuffed to bits to bring the winner’s cup home to Exeter; we thought they’d be tired on the drive back but they were bouncing off the walls!”