National Competition and Olympic Dreams: Jessie's Story and Gymnastic Scholar
Meet Jessie — the national gymnast shining at Kingsley
Gymnastics Scholar · Year 8 · British Championships finalist · Scotland international
She trains before school, after school, and gives up most of her weekends, but for Jessie, Kingsley's Gymnastics Scholar and a Year 8 student, every hour is worth it. A national-level gymnast competing at the British Championships and representing Scotland on the international stage, Jessie sat down with our Kingsley Sport podcast to share her remarkable journey, her goals, and the advice she'd give to every young gymnast just starting out.
Gymnastics Scholarship — Kingsley Jessie holds a Gymnastics Scholarship at Kingsley, recognising her exceptional talent, dedication, and the outstanding level she has reached in the sport. The scholarship reflects the school's commitment to supporting elite young athletes as they balance world-class competition with a full academic programme.
Jessie trains at Falcon's Gymnastics Academy under the guidance of personal coach Kelly Park, logging an extraordinary 25–26 hours every single week across five days. Despite that punishing schedule, she balances it all alongside a full academic timetable at Kingsley, and as a Gymnastics Scholar, she gives back to the school whenever possible, training and supporting the gymnastics programme alongside Miss Braunton and Miss Venner — a feat that says as much about her character and discipline as it does her talent.
"Just keep going, because in the end you'll get there and you'll feel so proud of yourself. Work hard, be determined, and shine like a star." Jessie, Gymnastics Scholar, Year 8
At the British Championships this year, her first season competing at Junior level, Jessie delivered clean routines on bars and beam, reaching the final and making herself genuinely proud. A small slip on the floor didn't dampen her spirits: she knows her ability, and she knows exactly what work lies ahead to get the upgrades and execution scores she's chasing.
Gymnastics Scholarship at Kingsley
Jessie credits Kingsley's gymnastics specialists Miss Braunton and Miss Venner as key pillars of support through the highs and lows. "They helped me get through tough times," she says warmly. "I just thank them so much for everything they've done for me." The school's gym, she admits, was a welcome surprise when she joined in Year 5, full of equipment she'd never had access to before, and full of new friends who made her feel instantly at home.
Her role models? Simone Biles, naturally "the best gymnast in the world" but also Jessica Gallerova and Alice Canella, whose resilience and achievements inspire Jessie deeply. Looking further ahead, she has her sights set on the Commonwealth Games and Europeans, with the Olympics always glimmering on the horizon. On the grapevine, it's said her current routines would already have put her in contention for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth squad, age restrictions the only thing standing in her way.
Beam is her favourite event ("I'm probably best at beam"), but ask any of the Kingsley students who've watched her flip and twist across the gym floor, and they'll tell you she makes every piece look effortless. She is, without question, a role model for every young Kingsley gymnast who's just learning their first shapes, and a name we fully expect to hear on much bigger stages very soon.
Could Jessie's story be the start of your child's journey?
Jessie is exactly the kind of talent that Kingsley's gymnastics programme was built to nurture — and now the opportunity is open to a new generation. Kingsley School Devon is proud to offer Gymnastics Scholarships for pupils in Years 3 to 6, giving young gymnasts the chance to train within one of the most inspiring school-based programmes in the region.
The Academy is led by Miss Gemma Braunton, who competed at county, national and international levels before dedicating her career to coaching, working closely alongside coaches at Falcons Gymnastics Academy. She is supported by Miss Katrina Venner, whose 25 years of grassroots experience include founding the North Devon Display Gymnastics Club and running the North Devon Schools' Gymnastics Competition.
Scholarship pupils train in a the gymnasium with dedicated track, trampoline and vaulting areas, progressing through competitive pathways including English Schools, ISA Nationals and British Gymnastics events. In 2025, a Kingsley gymnast earned a National All-Around Silver medal — proof that the pathway here is the real thing.
If your child has a love of gymnastics and the ambition to go further, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply Online: marketing.kingsleydevon.com/prep-school
Contact Admissions: 01237 426200
Email:admissions@kingsleydevon.com
Nurturing Wellbeing | Achieving Success
