Rugby star’s new goal

John Gillam

A FORMER rugby league star is one of the first in the North-West to try his hand at being a specialist primary school PE teacher.

Ex-Roughyeds and Ireland international John Gillam is one of 60 new trainees taking part in a government scheme to help boost sport in schools. The recruits spend half their time studying PE and sport and also training in the core subjects - English, maths and science. Once in school they will also help their teaching colleagues to develop their skills and improve quality of PE.

John is gaining his qualification through the Ashton-on-Mersey Teaching School Alliance and is now teaching year five at Moorlands School, Trafford.

“I was excited to be a part of the new concept,” he said. Across England, 220 primary PE specialists have been recruited in two years.