Pupils and teachers at Five Ways Primary School, Cannock are celebrating after becoming the first primary school in Staffordshire to be officially welcomed in to London 2012’s Get Set network, in recognition of their commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic Values.
Get Set is the London 2012 educational programme which offers children and young people aged 3-19 years from schools and colleges across the UK to learn more about the Olympic and Paralympic values and play their part in the 2012 Games.
David Moorcroft, Olympian and former 5000 metre world record holder and Chair of the West Midlands Leadership Group for the 2012 Games visited the school earlier this week to present members of the school sports council with a plaque and certificate to acknowledge their involvement in the Get Set 2012 education programme.
Pupils and staff at the school have been working hard to incorporate the Olympic and Paralympic aims into their work by holding special assemblies and running a virtual athletics competition. Future plans include running a programme of 20:12 activities set against the Get Set stopwatch clock and developing a countdown to the Olympics board.
They now join schools and colleges across the UK as members of a special London 2012 community – the Get Set network - and will receive access to exclusive competitions and 2012 Games related opportunities over the coming years.
County Councillor Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture and one of the Staffordshire representatives for the West Midlands Leadership Group for the 2012 Games said: “Congratulations to everyone at Five Ways Primary School. Get Set is an exciting programme which is bringing the inspiration of the London 2012 Games into the classrooms and lives of young people across the UK. We are delighted that we have so many of our Staffordshire schools already registered with the programme and are proud that this school has become the first primary in the county to take the next step to become part of the Get Set network”.
David Moorcroft, Chair of the West Midlands Leadership Group for he 2012 Games said: ‘Pupils at Five Ways Primary School are excellent examples of how London 2012 is helping to spark young people’s imagination and inspiring them to get involved and make a difference. They have clearly demonstrated that London 2012’s education programme extends far beyond PE and sport and I hope they will motivate other young people to join their journey.’
Michelle Walsh, Headteacher at Five Ways Primary School said:” We are delighted to have been awarded this recognition. The Get Set programme is inspirational and is providing our pupils with a wide range of opportunities and adding an exciting new dimension to the curriculum. We are keen to use the motivational factors and inspiration of the 2012 Games and to raise the profile of sport, physical activities and Olympic and Paralympic values within the school and wider community”.
To find out more about Get Set, please visit: www.london2012.com/getset .
To find out more about how Staffordshire is playing its part in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games please contact: Chris Kirkland, Staffordshire Co-ordinator for the 2012 Games on 01785 854595 or chris.kirkland@staffordshire.gov.uk