Sports Award

sponsored by Collinson
Awarded to the educational establishment in the UK that can demonstrate an outstanding committment to developing the sporting skills of its students through the provision of first class facilities and coaching programmes.

2011 Winner: The Oratory School, South Oxfordshire

The Oratory School, winner of The Independent School of the Year 2007/8 for sport, promotes a ‘sport for all’ ethos. The school is recognised for students’ exceptional abilities and their dedication to sport with the expertise and commitment of staff and parental support winning through. Sporting excellence acknowledged the school’s inclusive approach. Pupils at Oratory School reach out to pupils from around the Thames Valley and beyond, bringing together young people from different countries enriching their experiences. That degree of achievement owes much to the coaching capabilities of expert sports professionals who provide training focus. Intensively used and refurbished used sports facilities reveal their strength: an indoor heated pool, indoor soccer and basketball, squash courts, indoor cricket and gymnasium.

Commended

Norden Community Primary School, Lancashire
Norden Primary has gained many prestigious sporting achievements, including its Active Mark Gold for Sport, through planned availability both in and beyond the school day, and extended extra-curricular activities during lunch hour and after school. This sustains a very strong sporting orientation for pupils, and adds value to their education by developing a range of their skills. Currently, the school provides football, rounders, netball, lacrosse, gymnastics, trampoline, swimming, cross-country running, rugby, golf and tennis. This very full choice is possible due to Norden Primary’s ample rear of school playing fields (four football pitches), as well as several playgrounds with excellent play facilities. The gymnasium with state-of-the-art equipment includes three full-sized trampolines in daily use.

Churchill Community College, Tyne & Wear
Churchill College holds several awards and has specialist status in sport, making an outstanding contribution improving outcomes for students. The extent to which this positively impacts students’ healthy lifestyles is dramatic. Their specialism helps to expand their vocational provision, and makes a strong contribution to strengthening leadership and teachers’ professional development. A significant aspect enables students in Key Stage Four to undertake a sports leadership programme that develops into other areas of the curriculum, such as the ‘maths leaders’ programme, demonstrating links to academic advancement. The school is a hub for the School Sports Coordinator Programme, supporting the teaching of PE and sports in one third of schools in North Tyneside.

Benfield School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Benfield Sports College’s prowess was revealed as one of only two schools in the country to have teams through to both Key Stage Three and Four of the prestigious Badminton England National Schools Finals. Success is based on exceptionally good resource provision for physical education generally, and in specific sports offering strong opportunities for students to participate in very significant events. The Northumberland Badminton Association and the City of Newcastle Gymnastics Academy locally assist that progress. Facilities include a six-court multi-use sports hall, Gymnastics high performance centre, fitness suite, floodlit Astroturf, acres of playing fields and a recently refurbished pool. Solid coaching and extra-curricular activities contribute to the character of leadership skills and self esteem, benefiting sport applied throughout school.