We are delighted to announce that Spring Brook Academy Upper and Lower schools have achieved the School Games Gold Mark Award for the 2018/19 academic year. Spring Brook have achieved the Gold award 5 years in a row now showing that sport and physical activity is at the forefront of our SEMH provision.
It is widely known that sport and physical activity has massive positive effects on mental health and wellbeing as well as improving confidence, self-esteem, communication, leadership, resilience and team work. All of these qualities are a central part of the sports curriculum at Spring Brook and form a solid thread through the school as a whole.
The School Games Mark is a Government led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and we are delighted to have been recognised for our success again this year.
In the academic year 2018/19, Spring Brook Academy have been involved in more sporting events outside of school than ever before. We have been competing with other schools (mainstream and special) all across Manchester in many varied events to try to include all pupils in our provision.
We are extremely proud to say that 95% of our pupils have participated in at least 1 sporting event outside of school this year. Many pupils have participated multiple times and have visited various schools, stadiums and venues in the Manchester area and have integrated amazingly with other pupils from all the many different provisions. All of our pupils also have access to competitive and non-competitive activities in school through our curriculum which is incredibly varied and is aimed at engaging ALL pupils in physical activities that they can enjoy and learn from.
The School Games Mark recognises this and as part of our application, we were asked to fulfil criteria in the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs, and we are pleased that the hard work of everyone at our school has been rewarded again this year.
A special thanks to all of the staff at Spring Brook including the school leaders for allowing sport and physical activity to be such a prominent part of school life. I am already looking forward to doing more and more next year!
Mr Hopkins
PE Teacher
If you liked this post, have you also seen Mr Hopkins’ blog on our Key Stage 3 Outdoor Activities this term (please click here) and our Spring Brook Upper Sports Afternoon (please click here) – perfect examples of what our pupils take part in!!
