A NUMBER of elite athletes at Wellington School are already noticing the benefits of having former Somerset cricketer Steffan Jones as their new teacher.

Jones ended his 16-year county cricket career this summer after representing Wales Minor Counties, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Kent.

He has been working as master in charge of cricket and elite sports performers for a month but said his work is being well received.

He added: “It is going well and it is all good for the school.

“I try and prepare the young athletes the same way I did in my career and I try to do things as professional as I can from under-11s rugby all the way to the elite performers.

“Hopefully we can attract students to come here and be given the best chance to succeed at whatever level they want to play at.”

Jones is working with 13-14 elite performers on an individual basis and a further 30 students in an emerging athletes group.

Headteacher Martin Reader said the school is already seeing the benefits since Jones joined.

He said: “He is a role model to the children and as well as having high standards for them he is extremely approachable.

“Steffan has already made a difference to the elite athletes at the school and the rugby teams which are winning now.

“We want primary schools to get in touch with us if they would like some of Steffan’s knowledge passing on to their children as part of our outreach programme.”

Members of the elite athlete development program (EADP) are Olivia Eaton Jones (athletics), Millie Jeans (football), Prosper Simmons (archery), Jacob Amadi (rugby), Toby Duggan (water skiing), Katie Paul (eventing), Anna Tanner (netball), Natasha Dawson (netball), Jess Gundry (fencing), James Keay (rugby), Ben Hawkins (cross country), Jade Gardner (fencing), Taggy Forrester Bennett (eventing), Joe Lewis (rugby), Will Hester, (rugby) Yasmin Canner (tennis)