On Friday 11 February, we welcomed Andy Grant to the academy.  Andy has been through more than most have in their lifetime. From losing his mother aged 12, to joining the Royal Marines, to serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, to being injured by an IED, becoming medically discharged and consequently facing life as an amputee.

Although what Andy has been through is unique, the problems and adversities we all face in our daily lives are very similar. He shared his story to our year 11 and sixth form students about how he went on to become the world’s fastest single leg amputee in the world over 10km by clocking a time of 37:17, and climbed some of the world’s highest mountains. All since making the decision himself, to have his leg amputated.

Andy explained that life will put you in all kinds of challenging situations, but it need not determine you as a person – it’s how you react to these challenges.