School strikes gold for its commitment to PE and sport

Sparken Hill Academy has been awarded the Youth Sport Trust organisation’s gold quality mark.

The trust is a national charity that aims to build a brighter future for young people through the power of sport.

The quality mark is an online self-review tool that provides schools with a nationally recognised badge of excellence for the quality of its PE and sport.

The tool also supports schools to audit their provision of PE and sports equipment, and also identify priorities for development.

Richard Lilley, principal at the school, which has about 500 pupils on its books, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the gold quality mark from the Youth Sport Trust.

“This recognises our commitment to delivering the best possible sporting experiences for the young people at our school.

“There is a whole range of education, health and wellbeing benefits from delivering high-quality PE and school sport.

“On a regular basis, we see that when it is delivered well, it can transform the lives of all pupils.”

The trust awards marks of bronze and silver, as well as gold. These reflect the efforts schools make in using PE and sport to rase achievements. When a school is awarded gold, trust officials pay it a visit to validate its self-review.

Alison Oliver, chief executive of the trust, said: “Congratulations to Sparken Hill Academy. Schools that achieve the quality mark share our belief in the value of high-quality PE and sport, and the positive impact it has on young people as they go through their education.

“PE and school sport helps young people to live healthy and active lives. It also helps them achieve their personal best in school and in life.

“We are delighted to be working with thousands of schools across the country that recognise the competitive advantage this gives to their pupils.”