Two Sheffield schools announced among regional winners in Yorkshire Primary PE Awards

The annual awards celebrate schools across Yorkshire who can demonstrate the impact they have had on their pupils through effectively spending their Primary PE and Sport Premium grant.

The PE and Sport Premium is designed to help children get an active start in life, supporting primary schools to improve the quality of their PE and sport provision so that pupils experience the benefits of regular exercise – from becoming healthier both mentally and physically, to improved behaviour and better academic achievement.

E-Act Pathway Academy, in Longley, won the award for whole school improvement having transformed its PE, school sport and physical activity over the last two years.

The school has invested in equipment to provide pupils with the opportunity to take part in a wider variety of activities and has seen a significant increase in pupils taking part in extra-curricular activities, with pupils and their families now getting involved with community sports clubs and events.

Meanwhile Woodseats Primary School scooped the sustainability award, with judges noting the school’s use of The Daily Mile iniative – which sees children run or jog for 15 minutes every day – to promote independence.

The primary school on Chesterfield Road has also implemented an inter-school challenge to maintain children’s interest and to allow them to set personal challenges, with staff reporting that pupils return to class more focussed and with an improved attitude to learning.

Other South Yorkshire winners included Darton Primary School, in Barnsley, which bagged the innovation award for its work to address stereotypes in sport, and Laithes Primary School, also in Barnsley, which picked up the active schools award for introducing more daily activity and making children aware of the importance of their activity levels.

A panel of experts from organisations including the Association for Physical Education and the Youth Sport Trust assessed this year’s applications.

Schools self-nominate in any of four categories, with the winners from the four Yorkshire counties going forward to a Yorkshire Awards which will take place online in October.

Former competative swimmer and British olympian, James Kirton, will announce the overall Yorkshire winners, live on YouTube on Tuesday, October 13.

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