Meet the Team - Jess Kinghorn

Company Role: Holiday Camp Manager and P.E Educator/PECS mentor

Favourite quote: Be 1% better everyday.

What is something Primary School headteachers and PE co-ordinators have to deal with that you want to fix?

I would love to be able to resolve the pressure felt to fit everything into the school day/year. I have been part of many staff room discussions about trying to cram all of the learning into such a short time. This often leads to some areas being overlooked and not getting as strong as a focus as they deserve. For example, P.E is often one area of the curriculum that sometimes has to get cut a little short to fit everything else in despite most schools trying their best to not allow this to happen sometimes it is just not possible.

What do you do at PEAK?

At PEAK I oversee the running of our holiday camps, this involves many jobs like setting up the camps on our booking system to deciding which activities to have on which days. I would like to say that our holiday camp customers trust us and feel safe leaving their children with us knowing they will have a great time. I take great pride in being a part of this and ensuring that all of kids have an amazing time and that the parents and host school have the upmost confidence in us.

I also deliver P.E at a great school in Longbenton and deliver our CPD programme PECS at another brilliant school in Cullercoats. Both of these schools give me a great opportunity to work across all different year groups and develop teachers understanding and confidence within P.E.

What are your credentials/past experience, for working in your position?

I bring a vast knowledge of a range of sports to PEAK including some rarer sports like Ice Hockey and Ball Hockey. I also have a range of leadership experience from coaching an under 11s and 13s team to being assistant captain last year of my women’s and mixed ball hockey team the NorthEast Dekstars. I feel these experiences give me a different approach to the job compare to people who may take part in more mainstream sports like Football and Rugby as I know what it is like to have not many people have even heard of your sport never mind played it. This means I often have many questions to answer from both children and colleagues about my experiences especially being a female in a very male dominated sport! I feel this gives me the opportunity to inspire children into different sporting routes!

What’s your Archetype?

My Archetype is

42% Explorer

42% Athlete

16% Performer

I feel these are a pretty accurate representation of myself. I have a huge love for sports of all kinds, but I also love jetting away on a holiday and exploring new places and seeing what different countries have to offer. The performer side surprised me a little, but I feel it might come from my love of being a leader and trying to inspire others to do that little bit extra at training or take a leap of faith and try something new.

What do you like about working at PEAK?

Working at PEAK has given me so many opportunities to grow in my career and as a person. I really enjoy going into different schools and seeing how they operate and meeting such a wide variety of children and staff who have came from all sorts of walks of life. From starting as an apprentice to now managing holiday camps and delivering P.E and PECS I have experienced so much and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend anyone else to use this route to begin their career.

What’s your background?

I grew up in Shiremoor in North Tyneside and all through school I had no idea what I wanted to be expect I knew I wanted it to be something to do with sport. I originally enrolled at college to do A levels however by Christmas I knew this route was not for me. I wanted to do something more hands on and begin earning some money for myself. So after applying for countless jobs and apprenticeships I found PEAK and I have been here since that day.

Outside of education and growing up I was constantly at the ice rink whether that be playing/training myself or watching the Warriors.

I have my Uncle Gary to blame for that part he got me into the sport at 11 years old and then emigrated to live in Canada leaving my mum to travel up and down the country on team busses with me every weekend as she loves to remind my very often!

Other then Hockey I took part in a wide range of sports at high school and loved completing my GCSE P.E work. I often found myself playing Rugby, Football or even Golf or Athletics which me and my friends still laugh about today.

What are the values that drive you?

One thing I am passionate about is that girls should be allowed to take part in any sport they choose without being stereotyped or judged. Coming from a male dominated sport I have seen and experienced first-hand how hard it can be to be respected in sport for females. Far more often than not you get treated very differently to the boys despite how talented you may be. I feel in my job roll I really get a chance to challenge this and show girls that it can be done despite it being difficult at times.

What we believe filters down and inspires who we are and what we do. Think about what you believe as it relates to your position, and the work you do in your industry. Often, we’re carrying the banner for popular needs and beliefs, like responsible business, care for human beings, freedom of expression, etc.

Your top 3 favourite Podcasts/Books?

My favourite 3 podcasts or books must be:

Chris and Rosie Ramsey’s podcast is one of my favourites I thoroughly recommend this if you are after a laugh and it is even more enjoyable that is local.

The book The Power Within is also a good read as it shows you just how important a growth mindset is and how it can completely change your outlook on life.

When I was younger, one book that always sticks in my head that I loved reading is Goodnight Mr Tom. It brings back a lot of memories from my childhood.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

Outside of work like I have previously mentioned I love sports however I really enjoy meeting up with friends for a catch up and going for a walk. I much prefer being outdoors and exploring then being stuck inside in front of the telly all the time. Travelling is also another thing I really enjoy doing you cannot beat a good road trip and a nice hotel at the end of it

What do you do that makes you ‘human’, makes you feel alive and excited? If you’re constantly focused on your work, then it’s likely you ‘dry up’ as a person. Having other interests is critical, whether getting out and exploring, learning a different topic, binge-researching, cooking, or catching up on Netflix marathons.