Rumworth on the World Stage

In April, Gina Stafford, Senior Leader at Rumworth School led the Team England Special Abilities Unified Pom (TESAUP) to back to back World Champion status at the ICU World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando Florida, USA. 

TESAUP are a pioneering group of athletes in the cheerleading community who in 2024 became the first ever athletes with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to represent England within the Special Abilities section of the ICU Cheerleading World Championships. The athletes made history by bringing home a gold medal and then repeated this success in 2025. 

The team is made up of disabled and non disabled athletes and they have made waves within the cheerleading community. The athletes have promoted inclusion and shown that when given the opportunity, neurodiverse athletes can access the same age appropriate sporting opportunities as their neurotypical peers. The team have influenced other countries to build national SEND programmes, giving opportunities for all to enjoy the sport they love and represent their country at the highest level. Six of the athletes over the past two seasons have been students at Rumworth School and Lifebridge ASEND along with the staff team also including Vicky Atherton (KS5 Lead Teacher, Rumworth School) and Jacqui Latham (Rumworth School Governor and Assistant Headteacher at The Forwards Centre)- making Bolton a true representation of worldwide cheerleading and coaching talent. Gina would like to say a huge thank you to Sport Cheer England (National Governing Body), Rumworth School and the wider local community for their support during the past two seasons. 

If you want to find out more visit the news pages of Rumworth School.