Member Article

Awards for school sports stars

The efforts and achievements of Northumberland’s sporting youngsters have been recognised at a glittering award ceremony.

The School Sports Awards were attended by 135 pupils from 14 first and primary and middle schools in Cramlington and Seaton Valley.

Sponsored by The Education Network, the award ceremony took place at Cramlington Learning Village. Awards were presented to the 14 schools who had achieved the Sainbury’s School Games Mark for 2014-15.

The Sainsbury’s School Games are a unique opportunity to motivate and inspire millions of young people across the country to take part in more competitive school sport. Participating schools are eligible for the Sainsbury’s School Games Mark in recognition of their commitment to developing and delivering PE and school sport.

As well as competing in 26 different School Games events over the past year, schools had also participated in specialist coaching in various sports and disciplines including gymnastics, dance, rugby league, football and tennis. More than 1,000 hours of coaching were provided to pupils of all abilities as well as additional elite coaching to youngsters with particular talent. Hundreds more pupils were also involved in sports leadership and initiatives to improve health and wellbeing, with hula hooping proving a particular highlight.

Wayne Daley, partnership manager at The Education Network, said: “We are delighted to be a strategic partner with the School Sports Partnership team and the awards were our way of providing a massive boost to young people for their efforts in making sport and activity part of their school life.

There is such an important link between education and sport and the vital role this plays in reducing childhood obesity and enhancing long term educational outcomes so this programme has been specifically designed to help young people in all walks of their life.“

Gillian Marsden is co-ordinator for Cramlington School Sports Partnership and she added: “Cramlington and Seaton Valley are leading the way with recognising and rewarding the achievements of young people in sport. Our pioneering partnership with The Education Network has meant we can provide thousands of newsletters for parents, run the awards programme and promote the massive range of sporting activities we deliver over the year for every child in the area.”

The winners and attendees at the School Sports Awards were entertained on the night by the Cramlington Caribbean Crew Steel band, Seaton Sluice Middle School skippers and Beaconhill Primary School’s hula-hoop team.

Alongside the School Games Mark awards, five special awards were presented on the night recognising outstanding progress and achievement – Promoting health and wellbeing (Seaton Sluice First School); Increasing participation in PE and school sport (Northburn Primary School); Excellence in competition (Seaton Sluice Middle School); Developing leadership and volunteering (Shanklea Primary School) and the most prestigious award Promoting and developing the School Games Values (Eastlea Primary School).

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