Jack Lightbown with Sale Sharks co-owner, Michelle Orange
Jack Lightbown, a former Ladybridge High School student, was delighted to secure a full-time contract for Sale Sharks Senior Academy recently.
Jack, who studies A Level Physical Education, Accounting and Economics alongside the Sports Performance Pathway at The Sixth Form Bolton, is an extremely successful rugby player. He has represented England in the under-18s Six Nations Rugby squad and has played in South Africa and Ireland for the England Team.
Founded in 1861, Sale Sharks are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in the Premiership and the academy is one of the best in the country. Players are fully integrated into first team training at the Sharks and receive additional individual coaching and development in addition to regular feedback and analysis from the coaching team.
Whilst studying his A Levels at The Sixth Form, Jack has been a member of the Sport Performance Pathway, a bespoke training and development programme for young athletes who compete at a high level in any sport. The Sixth Form boasts elite athletes from a wide range of competitive sports including rugby, swimming and netball.
As a member of the Sport Performance Pathway, Jack has had access to new gym at The Sixth Form and had sessions with a professional Sport performance coach, Zoe Lyndon.
Jack’s really positive about his time at The Sixth Form saying:
“I’m very glad I chose to come to The Sixth Form. I’ve made life long friends and it’s been amazing. All of my course teachers have been really supportive and my Progress Coach has been great too. The Sports Performance Pathway has really helped me. It’s tailored to individuals and it’s all about your own needs. I have learned lots of important skills including teamwork, developing others in a professional training capacity and resilience. The sessions have also shown me how to be mentally, as well as physically, prepared for competing at the professional level.”
Everyone at The Sixth Form is really happy for Jack and delighted that he’s progressing into such a coveted position. Craig Thomas, Teacher of Sport and the Course Leader of Sports Academies at The Sixth Form is over the moon saying:
“Our specialist strength and conditioning coaches have worked hard with the Sale Sharks team to enable Jack to achieve his goal and gain his first professional contract in his sport, whilst gaining his A Levels. Jack has been a role model in his two years at college and has encourage other performers in rugby, swimming, athletics, martial arts and Olympic sports to join our program. We look forward to having more success and encourage any students who have aspirations to achieve their own sporting performance goals to look at the program and see how the college Sports Performance Pathway can help them gain academic qualifications alongside competing at an elite level. The whole Sports team at The Sixth Form are very proud of Jack and his successes.”
Learn more about the Sports Performance Pathway here
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