Page 3 - Spring 2020 Echo for website

College News 1

Helen Reddy Awarded BEM in Queen’s New Year Honours List

Helen Reddy, Head of Performing Arts at Ivybridge Community College, has been awarded a BEM in the
Queen’s New Year Honours list. Helen has been awarded the BEM in recognition of her Services to Educational
Gymnastics.
Helen is also a Board Director and coach at Honiton Gymnastics Club. Formerly a gymnast, Helen took over
the running of Honiton Gymnastics Club with Pam Burns and Emma Smith aged just 21. While running the club,
Helen started teaching at Ivybridge Community College where she is now Head of Performing Arts, Head of the
Gymnastics Academy and a former Director of Sport.
“This is a huge privilege and something that I never dreamed of being awarded,” said Helen, “Gymnastics has
been a major part of my life for the past 37 years and something I love, so to be recognised in this way is an
absolute honour.”
Rachel Hutchinson, Principal at Ivybridge Community College, said, “Words cannot describe Helen’s passion
and endless commitment to her work in education and, the Gymnastics Academy at the College. Helen’s
relentless drive and boundless energy is infectious and in turn, Helen has created a truly remarkable and unique
flagship for the College”.
She now runs the most successful school gymnastics team in the UK. Training at lunch times and after-school,
Helen’s team won more national titles than any other school in the UK at the past three year’s BSGA floor and
vault and acrobatic gymnastics championships. Helen not only oversees the development of 300 plus students
at primary and secondary level each year but also she creates and directs the College’s Performing Arts Show,
which includes performances by more than 500 children.
To meet the growing demand for the sport by young people, Helen has created a sustainable coaching
structure at the College which sees young people taking their first steps as young gymnastic leaders. Her
programme at the College has been recently endorsed by governing body
British Gymnastics, which selected the College as one of only a handful of
apprentice hubs in the UK.
Sir Gary Streeter attended a gymnastics performance at the College,
based on the theme of ‘The Hunger Games’. This event was organised in
recognition of Helen Reddy, Head of Performing Arts, in receiving a New
Year’s Honour.
He stated, “I watched the students smile as your name was mentioned,
and this shows what a difference you make to all of their lives, you work in a
special school, and Helen, you are a special teacher.” He also
complimented the College by saying, “I have seen quite a few school
performances and I have never seen anything like that, it was astonishing
and it was powerful. All teachers make a difference and I know how hard
teachers work.”