Sixth Lecture Series: Paralympian Hannah Cockroft talks to Berkhamsted Sixth

On 28^th November, Berkhamsted Sixth heard from Paralympian Gold medallist and world record holder Hannah Cockroft, who shared her athletic journey, and offered advice on staying focused even at the front of the pack.

Cockroft discovered wheelchair racing at 15 after throwing herself into every sport she could. She urged our students to Be Adventurous and seize every opportunity in front of them, recalling with gratitude the PE teacher who introduced her to wheelchair basketball and sparked her passion for sport.

She also spoke about the importance of motivation and focus in a world full of distractions, encouraging students to drown out the noise and pursue what truly matters. At Berkhamsted Sixth, we help our students find this balance through varied study spaces in our new Zaha Hadid Sixth form building and personal development sessions.

Cockroft finally emphasised the importance of trusting the process and knowing that hard work pays off. With over 4 World Records and an impressive 19 gold medals, Hannah Cockroft showed what is possible when one Aims High with Integrity. Her story reminds students to be ambitious and to embrace every opportunity that Berkhamsted provides.

Cockroft’s visit is just one example of the powerful series of talks that have been organised this term as part of Berkhamsted Sixth’s lecture series. Alongside weekly careers sessions, introducing students to the range of opportunities beyond Sixth, students also hear from leading academics, such as English professor John McRae and Sports Psychologist Michael Caulfield, as well as military figure Lieutenant Colonel Keith Spiers. From the world of sport, Berkhamsted has hosted Olympian hockey player Susannah Townsend and last week’s visitor, Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft. These visits inspire our pupils to strengthen and reflect on their character, inspiring them with the motivation and insight to forge a remarkable future.

Thank you to Mr Godman for organising this series of inspiring visits.