A GIGGLESWICK School old boy with a passion for rugby has returned as director of sport.

Ed Buck was a rugby scholar in the sixth form from 2009-2011. In the intervening years he has developed his teaching and coaching at two HMC schools and as head of the Northampton Saints DPP, and he understands thoroughly how to nurture the ambitions of young sports people.

His move back north has allowed him to take up a coaching role with Scottish Exiles designed to find the very best rugby players outside of Scotland.

“In my role I will be bringing together sport in the senior and junior school, and I’m looking forward to providing more transition events throughout the school year groups.”

He added: “My main priority for September is to ensure a safe return to physical activity and sport for all pupils at Giggleswick through a physical activity programme that focuses on ‘physical literacy and movement’ so pupils will be ready for the return of sport and fixtures when the time comes, whilst also promoting the benefits of leading a healthy and active lifestyle.

Giggleswick’s presence in the community is something I value and will endeavour to promote further. Local club links include North Ribblesdale and Wharfedale Rugby Club, Ben Rhydding Hockey Club, Settle Cricket Club and Skipton Tennis Club. Our elite performers are supported outside of school by the ESP programme and our professional club links. The links and performance pathways are very important to our pupils and through the Elite Sports Programme our links with professional clubs are ever growing. We already have strong links with Sale Sharks Rugby Club, Yorkshire Rugby Academy and Leeds Rhinos Netball, whilst hockey players are involved in England hockey’s performance hubs across the North East and West. Our current Community Outreach Programme will also have a new look this year as we look to welcome more local primary schools to participate in a wide range of sports.

I am lucky enough to be surrounded by a highly experienced and devoted department where we are committed to ensuring that all pupils are given the opportunities and support they need to excel across all sports, and we are always looking for new ways to keep our pupils engaged and interested in maintaining an active lifestyle. But also affording them the opportunity to follow their passion and progress in a performance pathways and professional clubs.

One of the many benefits of the Virtual School was our Giggleswick Sport ‘Extra-Time’ Hangout. We brought in high profile guest speakers via TEAMS, and we’re looking to continue this when the pupils return to campus, using a different theme each week taken from the ‘Giggleswick Learner’. We have some brilliant speakers lined up, including Olympians, international players and coaches. We also plan to promote and introduce ‘For the love of the game’, a live video analysis session run by the heads of sport. The aim of this will be to maintain contact with some sports which may not be on the programme due to NGB guidance in response to COVID-19.

What I love about teaching at Giggleswick is how all the pupils approach games with an ambition to prosper and participate across such a wide range of sports, so they become versatile, multi-sport high performers whilst they are here. The first-class facilities and beautiful scenery are a real bonus as a PE Teacher when delivering a holistic three term games programme.

I look forward to welcoming back new and current pupils back in September. Physical activity and sport will be at the heart of the Giggleswick CAS (Creative, Active, Service) programme.”