Our small school community continues to punch well above its weight on the national and international stage. This was never more evident than at our recent Lathallan Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) awards – an evening dedicated to celebrating the sporting spirit at Lathallan.
The highlight of the night was recognising the achievements of our pupils, with the calibre of talent reflecting the incredible diversity of sport at Lathallan. Team GB hill runner Hania (S6) was named Sports Personality of the Year, followed by freestyle skier Callum (S5) in second place, and footballer Andrew (S4) in third. All three also earned their Lathallan Red Cap. At Lathallan, a red cap is earned by representing one’s country in sport, symbolising an athletes honour and experience.
We’d love to share a bit more about our Sports Personality of the Year winner, hill runner Hania (S6). Having discovered a love for cross country, she began running competitively just three years ago. This year, she earned selection for the Scotland team at the U18 Mountain Running Cup in Slovakia. Her success continued at the Junior Hill International, where she helped Scotland secure the U20 Women’s Gold. And, she placed 3rd in the GB Team U20 World Championships qualifier and travelled to Spain to compete. With the Euros in 2026 and the World Championships in South Africa in 2027, Hania already has a number of exciting opportunities on the horizon.
Well done to all of our other SPOTY nominees —Autumn, Harry, Jennifer, Maia, Patrick, Rory, and Toby—and to every student who represents the Lathallan colours.
The evening featured a keynote address from VIP guest Kaleem Barreto. As a former Team GB Rugby Sevens Captain, Kaleem’s insights into leadership and resilience resonated with our young athletes.
We were also delighted to welcome back Old Lathallians Dean Fearn and Arabella Blackburn. Having finished their sixth year at Lathallan in 2025 as world champions in swimming and cycling respectively, they returned to campus to show us their recent medals. Their success is a reminder to our current pupils that world-stage ambitions are well within reach.
In our Senior School, over 20% of our senior school students have represented or are currently representing their country or region. This is a staggering statistic, and one we’re particularly proud of, for a school of our size. This year, we celebrated our U16 Rugby team as Team of the Year, alongside our Rising Star winners: Charlotte, Duncan, Alexis, Charlie, Casper, Alfie, Grace, Harry, Molly, Annabel, and Cameron.
The SPOTY dinner and awards are always a community effort. Chef Carter and his team delivered an excellent meal, while our boarders provided a slick and professional waiting service throughout the night. Mr Toley’s legendary sports quiz once again put everyone’s knowledge to the test.