Pupils across Staffordshire took part in a wide range of fun activities to celebrate Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week last week.
This annual national event is aimed at promoting physical activity and the work schools are doing to ensure that all pupils are accessing 5 hours per week of PE and Sport by 2012. It also provides schools with an opportunity to celebrate their own amazing sporting achievements over the last year.
Organised locally through the School Sports Partnerships in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, events included visits by Olympic and Paralympic athletes, sports days, school sport coaching sessions and more.
County Councillor Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture and Staffordshire representative on the West Midlands Leadership Group for the 2012 Games said: “It was fantastic to see so many Staffordshire schools joining in with this national programme once again. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a great way to inspire young people to take part in sport and understand the value of it. I would also urge schools that have not yet registered to join the London 2012 Get Set educational programme to do so by visiting www.london2012.com/getset as this will provide them with further opportunities to help bring the Games to life in their school”.
A taster of some of the events which took place across the county:
Stafford:
King Edward’s VI High School, Stafford - On Tuesday 29 June Year 3 & Year 4 pupils from the seven primary schools in the King Edwards cluster, plus Year 1 & Year 2 from All Saints Primary School at Ranton spent the morning at King Edward’s taking part in a wide range of activities, including egg and spoon races, sprints, sack races, Tri golf and skipping.
Staffordshire Moorlands:
Pupils from schools the Staffordshire Moorlands area took part in a Partnership National School Sport Relay enjoying 20:12 minutes of sporting activity linked to the Olympic and Paralympic values.
Lichfield:
At Highfields Primary School, Burntwood on Wednesday 30 June Chris Kirkland, Staffordshire 2012 Co-ordinator joined pupils at their assembly to highlight the London 2012 Get Set educational programme. Pupils also enjoyed watching a judo demonstration by GB team members Joshua Hill and Max Stewart, whose father Dennis won a bronze medal at the Seoul Olympics.
At Chasetown Specialist Sports College, Burntwood pupils enjoyed Olympic Games inspired activities including a mini Olympics, fencing sessions, Army activities and a China day which saw Year 8 pupils take part in table tennis, dance and art.
Cannock and Rugeley:
Pupils at all schools within the Cannock and Rugeley School Sport Partnership area took part in a five hour challenge entitled `Strive for Five’ which saw them enjoy activities aimed at the 5 hour offer, the five Olympic rings and the seven Olympic values. They also welcomed visits by a number of sporting stars, including, Mark Richardson, footballer who visited Fair Oak Primary School, Adam Whitehead Olympic Swimmer who visited Pye Green Valley Primary School, Five Ways Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School, Olympic Archer Alison Williamson visited St Luke’s Primary School and Chancel Primary School.
Pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Hednesford took part in a cycling session with Louise Day, British Cycling Go Ride Coach and David Moorcroft Olympic Long Distance Runner and Chair of the West Midlands Leadership Group for the 2012 Games visited Cardinal Griffin High School.
Year 5 pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Rugeley enjoyed tennis coaching with Zoe Edwards, head coach at Lea Hall Tennis Club, Rugeley.
Newcastle:
Pupils from schools within the Newcastle Sport Partnership area took part in an Olympic Games based competition at Newcastle College. Activities included table tennis, athletics, football, volleyball, badminton and volleyball.
As well as the sporting events schools completed some cross curricular activities including poetry using the Olympic and Paralympics theme as inspiration.