When Damion walked through the doors of The Radclyffe School in 2018, he was at the very beginning of a journey that has already taken him across the world and given him experiences he’ll never forget.
On his very first day, he made a friend simply by saying hello to another new starter while walking to school, something small that grew into a friendship. From the start, he threw himself into school life, quickly finding that his favourite subject was PE.
Reflecting on his time here, he describes it in three simple words: “Enjoyable, memorable and fun.”
Since leaving TRS, Damion has pursued his passion for sport at Oldham College. After completing his Level 2 qualification, he is now in his second year of Level 3, with the goal of becoming a primary school PE teacher and coach. That journey has not been without its challenges.
As he explains, “It hasn’t been easy for me as I’m Dyslexic and had to study Maths and English again at the same time. Last year I conquered Maths and this week I have finally passed English, which now means I can fully concentrate on my final year.”
Alongside his studies, Damion has dedicated himself to sport and community work. Since February 2024, he has been working as a lifeguard for Oldham Active, often covering weekends, nights, and school holidays.
His connection to lifesaving goes back much further: he has been part of Droylsden Lifesaving Club since the age of eight and is now a Rookie Lifeguard Instructor. Step by step, he continues to achieve new qualifications, from his RLSS National Pool Lifeguard and Open Water awards to his Lifesaving Academy Instructor badge and multiple first aid certificates.
Leadership and service play a huge role in Damion’s life. He is a Cub Leader, a member of Network Scouts, and is working towards both his Duke of Edinburgh Gold and the prestigious King’s Scout Award.
This summer, Damion’s commitment and ambition took him even further afield. He was selected to join Oldham College on a 16-night trip to Kenya, where he worked at a school in Nakuru, in the Rift Valley.
“We flew to Istanbul and then to Nairobi, where we stayed overnight before a six-hour journey to Nakuru. It really was a long way,” he recalls.
While there, he coached football and sport every day, helped paint classrooms, and even delivered lessons to pupils aged 3 to 16. With the support of an experienced teacher, he taught one lesson on healthy eating and another on English holidays.
“It was nerve-racking, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience… to see the children enjoy and take part in the lessons was so rewarding.”
The trip also gave him the chance to explore Kenya’s culture and landscapes, from visiting the Menengai Crater to feeding giraffes and enjoying traditional Kenyan cooking.
“It really was a trip of a lifetime which I will never forget.”
Looking back at his school days, Damion highlights the opportunities that The Radclyffe School gave him to grow in confidence and ambition.
In Year 10, he attended HOBY UK, a programme designed to help young people reflect on who they are and who they want to be.
He says, “I thoroughly enjoyed my time there in Year 10 as a candidate and returned the following year as a member of the team and have continued with it to this day.”
More recently, he was honoured to attend a presentation where HOBY UK received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
At TRS, he also served as an Inclusion Ambassador, helping new Year 7 pupils settle into school life, just as others had once welcomed him. Among his favourite memories are PE lessons, where he gained all his PE Colours, and being part of the Student Leadership Team.
When he recently returned to school, Damion caught up with Mrs Imeson, our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, and Mr Mellor and Mrs Coope, his PE teachers. It was wonderful to see him again and to hear about all that he has achieved.
And his advice to new Year 7 students?
“Really go for it. Don’t be shy, don’t be hesitant. Take what you can from your secondary school years and be proud of who you are and what you can and have achieved. Make the most of your school days.”
