Skyswood Primary School were delighted to receive the runners-up trophy for School of the Year at the Annual Hertfordshire Service to Sport Awards. This is an incredible achievement, with over 400 primary schools in the county. Twelve schools were shortlisted and our Sports Ambassadors, Henry and Grace, were thrilled to go up and receive the award on the school’s behalf.
Our congratulations go to Roman Way First School, from Royston, who received first place on the night. The ceremony was an enjoyable occasion all round. The awards were presented by BBC Radio 5 Formula One commentator, David Croft. There was also a fascinating interview with Nicolas Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton’s younger brother, who was born with cerebral palsy but has himself taken up motor racing, successfully marking the start of his career with a drive in the Air Asia Renault Clio Cup in 2011. Other guests included representatives from the Arsenal Ladies Football Team, Stevenage FC and Saracens.
We were also delighted when the local Marshalswick Judo Club were awarded the pestigious ‘Community Club of the Year’ Award. Several of our children attend this excellent club, which started out many years ago at Skyswood and is now based across the road at Sandringham. St Albans tasted further success when Beaumont School picked up the Secondary School of the Year Award.
Skyswood’s nomination was put forward by Tanya Angus, who coordinates the local Sports Partnerships Networks, and reflects the breadth of opportunity that is offered in sport throughout the school. Mr Jones and Mr Bridle reviewed the P.E. Curriculum last year and there have been some exciting additions to what we will now be offering.
In Key Stage 1 and lower key stage 2 the focus is on building up key skills that can be applied to a variety of sports, as well as encouraging an enthusiasm for all children to participate in games, gymnastics and dance activities. In Key Stage 2 all classes receive swimming lessons and as children move forward into the upper juniors specific units of study are planned (as from September 2011) for athletics, short tennis, hockey, tag rugby, dance, gymnastics, basketball,kwik-cricket, mini rounders, badminton, football, netball, try golf and even baseball, a breadth of experience that reflects our commitment to P.E. and games.
In addition to this we run several extra-curricular clubs and participate in numerous inter-school tournaments, including the annual netball rally, swimming gala, six-a-side football tournaments and cup competitions, tag rugby and kwik-cricket tournaments, the annual Dance competition, a Cheerleaders Festival, the District Sports Athletics events and the local leagues for netball and football. There were so many competitions last year that we have made the decision to be more selective this year, participating in the most popular after school tournaments but limiting the amount of time that is given to sports competitions within curriculum time.
The District Sports competition, tag rugby competition and kwik-cricket tournament are the three key events that we will continue to participate in that take place during the school day, otherwise all tournaments will be outside of school time.