This week (2nd – 8th November 2026) marks Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week! This year’s theme focuses on enjoying movement that works for each individual, because being active looks completely different for everyone (#SheCanSheWill).
At Lathallan, we care deeply about supporting and celebrating girls as they live an active and healthy life. For us, sport isn’t just about achievements, it’s about the skills and lifelong friendships built along the way. You see it everywhere here – from nursery children getting confident on bikes and in the pool, to Junior pupils stepping up into team sports and specialist coaching. We are proud to be a community where every pupil has the opportunity to be active, included, and inspired through sport.
Being active looks different for everyone. Throughout the week, we’ll be chatting with staff, pupils and our wider school community about how sport enriches life at Lathallan.
Our staff members are a constant source of inspiration, and they’ve shared a glimpse into their own active lives. Whether they’re tackling munros, taking early morning runs for a clear mind, wild swimming, or biking across island causeways, movement brings them health, connection, and a real sense of accomplishment.
J7 Junior School Teacher and Olympic Gold Medallist, Miss Smith, told us, “Fitness and wellbeing have always played a huge role in my life. I enjoy challenging myself physically and setting new goals that help me become fitter, healthier and happier. Being active not only helps me feel my best, but also gives me opportunities to meet like-minded people and share new experiences. Achieving Olympic gold as part of a small five-person team has strengthened my understanding of dedication, collaboration, and supporting others to achieve their best – these are values I carry into my teaching practice. During the October break, I completed my first marathon and spent time exploring the Scottish hills with friends. I love sharing my passion for an active lifestyle with others because it helps me learn, grow and brings me a real sense of fulfilment.”
Head of Boarding, Mrs Paul, took on running as a physical challenge to show cancer who’s boss and raise money for Friends of ANCHOR, a charity that supported her and her family through a really challenging time. Claire discovered she had blood cancer when her daughter was just six weeks old, and after finishing a gruelling six months of treatment for DLBCL, she started lacing up her running shoes to set her sights on completing the Loch Ness Marathon. As Claire shared, “Treatment turned out to be harsher on my body than I had first realised, that and two children, but I started to finally feel stronger and proud of what I could get through. So I picked a physical challenge to show cancer who’s boss and raise some money whilst doing so.”
Head of Modern Foreign Languages, Mrs McIlroy, said, “Having never been a huge fan of team sports (I still have memories of school PE!), I’ve always found my love of being active through music, dance and swimming. Growing up, I loved dancing whenever I had the chance, whether that was a dance class or a bit of Jane Fonda aerobics in the living room!”. When she joined Lathallan, she wanted to bring something a little different to school life, training as a Zumba instructor to combine her love of the Spanish language, music, and dance. Growing up in Oman, she has been swimming outdoors since she was a baby and still loves wild swimming in the summer. Mrs McIlroy noted, “For me, being active has never been about competition or being the best at a particular sport. It’s about finding something that makes you feel happy, energised and connected to yourself and others. I think it’s so important for girls and women to realise that there isn’t just one way to be sporty or active – the key is finding something you genuinely enjoy and making it part of your life.”
Mrs Maiden spends most of her working day seated at a screen as a finance assistant. As a busy mum of two, she started her running journey with Couch to 5K looking for a fresh challenge. Watching her fitness build step-by-step from 5K to 10K unlocked a whole new level of confidence. Today, she is a proud parkrun tourist, fitting in Saturday morning 5Ks wherever her son plays football, with her sights set on a half-marathon in 2027. As Naomi puts it, “Running is now a part of my life!”
Head of Science, Mrs Malcolm, finds her happy place in hiking, having grown up exploring the Scottish hills. “I love that every hill presents a different challenge: a lengthy 20km+ route, a steep climb from top to bottom, or a technical scramble along a ridge. Completing 10 munros in 24 hours has definitely been a personal highlight, along with inspiring the next generation of hill walkers through Lathallan’s Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.”
Lathallan School Matron, Mrs Munzer, took on an incredible family adventure this summer, packing her bike with her husband and two-year-old to cycle 190 miles across 10 islands, crossing six causeways, taking ferries, and camping for five days along Scotland’s spectacular Hebridean Way amidst wild beaches, turquoise seas, hills, and plenty of wind. Other recent adventures include bouldering in Fontainebleau (France) and Ticino (Switzerland).
Head of Netball, Miss Mathieson, demonstrates a massive dedication to sport through playing, coaching, and spectating. Sport is a huge part of my life, through not just coaching, but playing, and spectating. She said, “I captain my netball team, Dunedin, in Edinburgh, where last year I was nominated Player of the League for Division 1 (CENA) and voted Most Improved Player on my team. Despite playing the sport since P4, I am still learning and growing thanks to my coaches and teammates. I coach the Angus Netball U17 team and play for Dundee Storm. With this commitment, my only nights off from coaching or playing are Mondays and Saturday evenings! Because of this demanding schedule, I prioritise strength and conditioning (S&C) sessions before school and during lunch breaks. I believe this is essential not only for my own performance, but also for highlighting the often-overlooked benefits of resistance training for women. For instance, 22% of women are likely to develop bone-declining diseases, carrying a 15% risk of fractures compared to just 6% for men. Resistance training can increase bone density by at least 2% per year, making it a critical component of female health.”
School Matron, Mrs McGregor, started running nearly three years ago. She said, “Running started as a way to find a little time for myself postnatally. From struggling in 5K parkruns to getting fit enough for buggy runs to marathons and last week I ran a 44-mile ultra. It’s become so much more than miles. Moving your body means showing up for myself, nourishing my body, chasing goals, finding community and hopefully inspiring others along the way. And the best bit? My daughter is watching on and learning she can enjoy moving her body too!”
School Secretary, Mrs Saunders, has just completed a demanding challenge of a 10K row every day of October to raise funds alongside others in the Lathallan community supporting Olivia – Gofundme link . Despite moments of exhaustion and early mornings, she clocked up 24.5 hours on the Concept 2 Erg logbook and achieved three personal bests, including a Day 30 time of 43.31 minutes that puts her faster than the majority of women in her age group. Gillian shares her love of the sport,“I have so many wonderful memories attached to rowing that definitely got me through from dragon boating in Dubai, to coastal rowing at Catterline, rowing for the first time at Intercompany Row and then several races including Strathclyde Park with the Aberdeen Boat Club novice team – the memory of those experiences kept me strong and sane on the erg and beyond – and I only discovered my love for the sport and being on the water in my 40’s so it is never too late.”
Marketing Manager, Mrs Webster, was raised on the back of a tandem, climbing hills, playing golf, skiing and taking on outdoor adventures that taught her sport was a powerful tool and outlet. Nowadays, she stays active to keep up with her two young, energetic nursery-aged sons, and has found that running and fresh air helped her process grief and build resilience after losing her mum in her early twenties. Having recently challenged herself to her first 40-mile ultra run and loved it, she believes that you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it.
Whether we are lacing up our trainers for a big challenge, balancing busy family and work schedules, or cheering each other on from the sidelines, let’s use this week as a reminder that movement belongs to everyone.