Aspirations

At Woodlands, our intent is to develop the whole child, and their individual talents, so that they have high aspirations and can thrive as members of British society, whilst attending our school and when they leave in year six.

We enhance our curriculum by organising visitors that promote aspirations, alongside children’s emotional, social and mental wellbeing

The children at Woodlands have been fortunate to meet, and hear motivating stories from, several inspirational figures, including some from our local area!

 Tidez

Tidez is a rapper, and instrumentalist, from South East London – who also has a law degree! His songs include thoughtful lyrics and melodies, often linked to his Christian faith or his own experiences with emotional, social and mental wellbeing. At the core of his music, lies a deep desire to spread positivity and elevate lives through his art. Tidez’ mission is not just to entertain but also to inspire change, and foster unity, among diverse communities, highlighting to children what his aspirations, coupled with hard work, have enabled him to achieve.

 Mickey Bushell

Mickey Bushell is a Paralympic gold medalist and personal trainer from Telford. Mickey was born with lumbar sacral spinal agenesis congenital paraplegia’. He is missing seven vertebrae from the lower part of the spine just above the coccyx, he has no abdominal wall muscle control; his legs and hips have never fully developed and float unsupported at the lower end of his body. In spite of this, as a child he surprised everyone when he started crawling around and eventually walking on his hands in a handstand even though the doctors said he wouldn't be able to move!

Mickey's achievements:

*In 2008: Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China winning silver in the men's 100 metres

*In 2009: set a new 100 m world record in, Switzerland, beating the old record by three one-hundredths of a second 

*In the London 2012 Paralympics, he won a gold medal for Great Britain in the 100m in a time of 14.75 seconds, just shy of the World Record time of 14.47 seconds.

* In 2014 he claimed gold in the 100m and a silver medal in the 200m in wet and windy conditions,

* In 2016 he won the European title in the 100m in Grosseto, as well as a 400m bronze. 

Mickey is the current British Record holder, in his class/category, in the 100m and 200m events, and also the European record holder at 100m. After winning gold in London 2012,  he was honored with a golden postbox, in Wellington! He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to athletics. Mickey has now established the 'Mickey Bushell Gold Standard Academy' catering to both everyday wheelchair users, within Telford and Shropshire, who want to improve their abilities, fitness and skills, as well as elite athletes and wheelchair racers who want to reach the pinnacle of their athletic careers. He also runs 'Wheelchair Skills Training', offering participants the chance to improve their day to day abilities in their wheelchair and join a growing, supportive community of like minded individuals.

Tobi Sho-Silva

Tobi is an English professional footballer, also from South East London, who has been playing football from a very young age. He has played for various clubs, including England U18s, and now plays as a forward for National League club Maidenhead United. Tobi is also a Christian who, when he snapped his Achilles tendon several years ago, found strength in his faith and has since endeavoured to share this strength around the world, inspiring children and young people, teaching them how important it is to find a source of hope to inspire them to achieve and demonstrate resilience! He works with a community called F3: Faith, Football and Fellowship.

https://f3football.com/

Bryher Mackenzie

Bryher Mackenzie is a new author (from Madeley!) whose books convey big feelings and magic. When visiting our school, Bryher described how she had worked hard to become an author - despite finding Literacy difficult at school. She also reminded children that ‘anyone can do anything’, wherever they are from.

Sarah Griffiths

Sarah is also an author, residing in Shropshire, whose stories convey to children the importance of connecting to their inner selves, building self-esteem and self-empowerment. When visiting schools, alongside sharing her stories, Sarah delivers programs that speak to the individual child, giving them time for self-reflection, teaching practices and techniques that enrich their daily lives, support their emotional health and wellbeing, and take them on a powerful journey of self-discovery.