Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
First class ticket to Malaysia for Leeds Beckett graduate
George Gallop, 21, who grew up in Australia before moving to Worcestershire in the UK 11 years ago, has spent the last three years studying BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching at Leeds Beckett University, while captaining the University’s swimming team and undertaking various sports coaching and teaching volunteering projects.
As part of his course, George undertook placements in Africa and Fiji, gaining experience working in other countries. He spent one month in South Africa, coaching in townships around the whole Durban area, and six weeks in Fiji, teaching and coaching sport in a local village.
George will now swap the UK for South East Asia where he will work at Marlborough College Malaysia, near Johor in the south of the country. His new role will involve coaching and assisting in PE classes and for sports teams, with children from prep school right through to high school age.
Speaking about his studies, George said: “My time at Leeds Beckett has been a real journey and I’ve developed as both a coach and a person since starting. I’m delighted to have achieved a first and received the school award – it’s made all my hard work worth it.
“Some of my biggest highlights have been within the swimming and water polo sports teams and, being captain of the swimming team, as I’ve met lots of different people and made some good memories through competing, training and social occasions.
“The coaching and teaching volunteering projects I undertook in Fiji and South Africa as part of my degree were also invaluable as they really throw you into the deep end of testing environments to help bring out who you are and what you want to do. I’m now really excited about my next challenge in Malaysia.”
Alongside his first class honours degree, George was also awarded the school award for outstanding contribution to the coaching course.
Dr Dave Alder, Senior Lecturer in the Carnegie School of Sport, added: “George has been an outstanding student throughout his time at Leeds Beckett and his hard work has paid off. His first class honours degree is a huge achievement, as is being awarded the school award for outstanding contribution to the coaching course.
“George has made the most of every opportunity available to him and proved just how much you can achieve if you put your mind to it.
“We’re all really proud of what George has accomplished and know he’ll be a huge asset to Marlborough College Malaysia.”