Former Commonwealth Games diver takes gold in Primary Education
Wed, 22 Jul 2015 06:00:00 BST
Major injury puts pay to Olympics, but it opened a new career door as a primary teacher for top student Katherine Hamilton
KATHERINE Hamilton’s globetrotting life as a member of the GB diving team came to an abrupt and painful halt because of injury. Now she is rising to a new challenge after making an exceptional success of her teacher training degree course at the University of Huddersfield.
Now aged 24, Katherine has graduated with First Class Honours in her Early Primary Education BA degree. Ultra-high marks mean that she is a recipient of a Chancellor’s Prize, awarded annually to an elite group of high achieving students throughout the University. In September she starts her teaching career, with a post at Stocksbridge Junior School, Sheffield.
But from the ages of 11 to 18, Katherine’s life revolved around competitive diving, travelling the international circuit with the GB team. She had taken up the sport while still a schoolgirl in Brighton, before moving to Sheffield with her family. The 2006 Commonwealth Games were a highlight and she had her sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London.
Then a serious shoulder injury, while diving, put paid to her sporting career. Surgeons told her not to dive again and she still requires medication and a further operation. A new direction was needed.
“When I was diving I always thought I would become a coach. But after my injury I found it too hard to be in that environment when I couldn’t dive myself. So I had a long hard think,” said Katherine. “Primary teaching was always something at the back of my mind and I thought I could do that because I love being around children.”
She enrolled on the University of Huddersfield course, which includes regular school placements. This is when the ex-international sportswoman realised she had a new challenge on her hands.
“Teaching is very tough and the placements were exhausting. But although I was working so hard, I was really enjoying it and that kept me going,” she said.
Katherine also praised the “absolutely phenomenal” teaching and support she received from her course leaders at the University of Huddersfield.
Her degree includes a specialist module and Katherine chose maths. “This was because I enjoy it and I want to change people’s attitudes,” she said. “The whole culture is just ‘Oh, I can’t do maths’ or ‘What’s the point of maths?’ It’s a serious issue.”
She still has a love of sport, and PE education is another specialisation that Katherine might develop during her new teaching career. She can also envisage postgraduate study at the University of Huddersfield.
Her main goal, she says, will be to try and ensure that every child can reach their full potential. “I just love the thought that, as a teacher, I can make a difference to children’s lives.”
