The Edgeborough School community is incredibly proud of Toby Roberts and his achievements both throughout his time with us and since he left at the end of Year 8 in 2018.
Photo Credit: Peter Byrne/PA (PA Wire)Toby Roberts took the opportunity to attend the school climbing club aged 7 and never looked back. Realising quickly that it was a sport where he could combine his sharp logic and problem-solving skills with his natural agility, balance and strength. Climbing fast became Toby’s ‘thing’ within the school community, and he was often spotted on the climbing wall before and after school education and during lunchtimes. His dedication on the wall was reflected in his commitment to his studies and on the sports field, where he regularly demonstrated his talent in athletic events and on the cricket pitch.
Such is Toby’s drive and ambition, demonstrated throughout his time at Edgeborough, we had no doubt that he would leave Paris with a medal around his neck, for it to be a gold medal is something very special – he is a truly talented sportsperson and remarkable young man. His recent visit to the school to meet pupils and showcase his climbing demonstrated, once more, a maturity beyond his years, humility and an innate ability to connect with people. He is the embodiment of the Edgeborough School values of Adventure, Responsibility and Kindness.
Team GB’s Toby Roberts returns to Edgeborough and to the wall he first climbed
Edgeborough School pupils watched in awe and screamed in delight as Surrey wonderkid and Old Edgeburian, Toby Roberts, scaled the wall where his climbing journey began.
Toby spent the morning talking to staff and pupils as well as reading his Y8 leavers’ book from 2018 – reminiscing with his parents about his time at the school, which he joined at Reception and left in Y8. Toby says, ‘without this wall I wouldn’t be climbing, knowing I would be able to go on the wall at the end of the school day kept me going. I would think about it all the time, it was the start of everything I do now and it is incredible to come back here for the first time in six years, next time I return I will be an Olympian, which is pretty mind-blowing to think about!”.
Head, Daniel Cox, commented “the whole of the school community is behind Toby, to watch him scale our wall today was incredible and will go a long way to inspiring pupils to make the most of the opportunities the school has to offer. Only a few people become Olympians, but it is within reach of everyone to take the opportunities presented to them and make the most of them – Toby is the living embodiment of that attitude”.