Passing the Torch of Knowledge to our Students

At Reach British School our teachers are just as amazing as our students. Did you know that we have an Olympic Torch Bearer in our midst?

Mr. Matthew Carnelley is a committed and passionate Year 3 Teacher at Reach British School, and he is also a very accomplished athlete.

From a young age Mr Carnelley enjoyed personal success in all sports but was exceptionally talented in football. Along with his talent in the sports, he had some great mentors, coaches and teachers who supported his talent and helped to provide fantastic opportunities for him to explore and develop his love for sport and physical education.

He went on to play football for Middlesbrough FC Academy and Durham County, after which he began coaching football.

Mr Carnelley graduated with a BSc (Honours) in Sports Coaching from Leeds Metropolitan University and has a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from St. Mary’s University.

One of his proudest achievements has been carrying the Olympic Torch in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

“It was a huge honour and privilege to carry the Olympic Torch in 2012. It was a very proud and memorable day for myself and my family. My leg of the torch relay was only 20 miles from my hometown and so I had a lot of friends and family there to cheer me on. It was great to be able to share the day with them.”

Another recognition he is proud of is when he was named F.A. Young Coach of the Year at the English Football Association awards.

A lifelong learner, Mr Carnelley is a UEFA and FA qualified coach in football and futsal, an English Cricket Board (ECB) qualified coach, and also a certified Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga instructor.

Mr Carnelley is a strong believer in the holistic benefits of sports, and encourages all students to stay as active as possible.

“Sample as many different sports and activities as you can. You don’t have to specialise and focus on one sport at a young age. If you do choose to focus only on one you need to make sure you enjoy that activity completely. Physical activity is vitally important for student’s health, development and mental wellbeing. As well as the mental and physical benefits, physical activity can also be a great way for students to build relationships with their families and other students.”

As a teacher at Reach British School, Mr Carnelley inspires our entire community, but maybe most importantly, each child he teaches is encouraged to explore their own individual talents, just like he was as a student.