Sascha Kindred CBE, thrilled pupils and staff at Walford Primary School with a surprise visit at the end of the academic year.

The school works hard to ensure that all pupils understand that they can develop their own abilities, intelligence and performance and that having a growth mindset leads to a focus on learning, increased effort and a willingness to learn from our mistakes. Sascha Kindred’s story and strong message that ‘dreams are what you make of them’ fitted in perfectly with the school’s ethos and strengthened everyone’s resolve to be the best we can be.

Sascha, one of the most successful British para-swimmers of all time, who has competed in six Paralympic Games, winning thirteen medals, totally captivated his audience of children, parents and staff as he talked about success, motivation, peak performance and overcoming adversity. Headteacher, Louise George, said: “It was such an honour to host Sascha Kindred. He is a remarkable young man who motivated and inspired each and every one of us to excel beyond our current performance limits by ‘controlling the controllables’ – not to worry about what anyone else was doing, but to put all our efforts into improving ourselves.”

Paul Deneen OBE JP DL, Chair of the Board of Governors at Walford Primary School said: “I met Sascha Kindred at an awards event recently and invited him to visit our school. Both the Headteacher and Governors were delighted that he was able to meet with pupils, parents, carers, staff and governors during a whole school assembly, where he presented the annual sports trophies, followed by classroom interviews. Sascha has an exemplary record of achievement having won seven paralympian gold medals. Sascha is also an honorary Freeman of the County of Herefordshire.” Mr Deneen added: “This special assembly also afforded the opportunity for the Board of Governors to thank Headteacher, Louise George and her excellent team for the superb work being undertaken in supporting all of the pupils throughout the year, which has been much appreciated.”