St John鈥檚 Catholic School for the Deaf in Boston Spa have shared the following press release.
A RISING England rugby star joined students at a West Yorkshire specialist school to officially launch their newly refurbished Sixth Form.
Jodie Ounsley recently won her first full England cap and joined the young people from St John鈥檚 Catholic School for the Deaf in Boston Spa at a special evening held to mark the opening of the school鈥檚 new Sixth Form area.
The school and Sixth Form supports young people who are hearing impaired and is celebrating its 150th聽anniversary this year.
Jodie, who is deaf and who last year won the Young Deaf Sports Personality of the Year Award, spoke to the assembled audience of students, families and staff from the school about the challenges she had faced in playing rugby professionally, as well as the highs, and lows, of her career to date.
Students were full of questions for the Dewsbury teenager, who plays for England in the Women鈥檚 7鈥檚 Elite Squad and has also played for the 15鈥檚 and 7鈥檚 England team at Under 18鈥檚 level.聽Jodie plays wing at 15鈥檚 and prop at 7s.
Questions included whether wearing a cochlear implant affects her ability to play, her best moment, worst injury and what her ambitions are for the future.
Jodie said: 鈥淚 was told not to play contact sport because of my cochlear implant, but I wear a scrum cap, to protect it and it鈥檚 fine. I sometimes have problems hearing the whistle, but other than that, it鈥檚 fine.
鈥淚鈥檓 the quietest and shiest person off the pitch, but on, I find an aggression and love the physicality of the sport. I鈥檝e been so proud to have won Deaf Sports Personality of the Year and to achieve my first England cap.鈥�
As well as performing the official opening of the Sixth Form, which has been completely refurbished at St John鈥檚, Jodie also presented the school with a signed England shirt to display.
Head Teacher Ann Bradbury said: 鈥淲e were delighted to welcome Jodie to the school and her story is so inspiring for our students. She is a hugely inspiring young woman and her successes show that with hard work and determination, you can achieve your goals.
鈥淭he students loved meeting her and we can鈥檛 think of a more inspirational person to open our Sixth Form. The students certainly had lots of questions for Jodie and they were thrilled with her gift of a signed shirt.鈥�
