Teachers say Ennis is inspiring a new generation

Staff from King Ecgbert’s, in Sheffield, believe the heptathlete is a credit to the school.

Chemistry teacher Zoe Thomas said: “She really is an inspiration.

“We’ve got a big poster of her in the gym. There’s a massive picture in the school as well. They all know her and there’s a lot of pride.”

Mrs Thomas said 10 years after she helped Ennis to an A in her science GCSE, she still sees her for a chat and she had not changed.

She said they often meet when the athlete is walking her chocolate labrador Myla in the woods and she is out with her terriers.

“It’s always nice to see her. We usually have a little chat. She’s lovely – totally unaffected but a total professional. Such an impressive person.”

English teacher Ian Rouse taught Ennis media studies which led to her A in English at GCSE.

Mr Rouse said she never let her burgeoning athletics career get in the way of her academic progress.

“She was very bright, very hard-working and she made a great contribution to the school.

“I don’t think many people did realise she was putting so many hours into her sport.”

And Mr Rouse said he thinks Ennis’s success has not changed her.

“She’s just a smasher,” he said.

“I remember bumping into her when she got her Commonwealth bronze a number of years ago.

“She was starting a 10k race for Sheffield Children’s Hospital and she just came over and had a natter. Some people came over and asked for her autograph and she was a bit taken aback at that stage, although she’s got a bit more used to it nowadays.”

Ennis went to King Ecgbert’s, in the Dore area of Sheffield, after leaving Sharrow Primary School, in the city. After her GCSEs she got A-levels in English, psychology and sports science before going to Sheffield University. There she got a psychology degree despite winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal.