Dumfries Academy is the first school in Dumfries and Galloway to achieve the sportscotland gold school sport award.
The award will be presented to the school on Wednesday 16 December 2015, at 4pm, in the Academy’s main hall.
The presentation will feature staff and pupils, including Dumfries Academy’s sport ambassadors and sport committee.
The school sport award is a national initiative to encourage schools to continuously improve the quality and quantity of opportunities for physical education and school sport. It also encourages sporting links between schools and the communities around them.
Schools self assess to achieve a bronze or silver sportscotland school award. However, the gold award can only be achieved following extensive external assessment by a panel of independent experts. Throughout the assessment process, schools are encouraged to reflect on current practice and focus on continuous improvement.
Stewart Harris, sportscotland chief executive, said, “I’d like to congratulate all staff and pupils at Dumfries Academy for putting quality physical education and sport at the heart of the school. They should be proud of this fantastic achievement.
“We are building a world-class sporting system for everyone and a crucial part of that is putting young people at the centre of our efforts. Working with our partners in local authorities and governing bodies for sport, we’re creating closer links between physical education, school sport and club sport, benefitting young people by providing more and better opportunities to take part in sport.”
Councillor Tom McAughtrie, chairman of the Community and Customer Services committee, said, “Providing the best start in life for all our children is a priority for our Council. I’m delighted that Dumfries Academy has achieved this prestigious award and would like to thank everyone, particularly the pupils, who have worked so hard to deliver this success.”
Fiona Reilly, principal teacher health and well-being at Dumfries Academy, said, “We’re absolutely delighted and proud to be the first school in Dumfries and Galloway to achieve the sportscotland gold school sport award. Along with Active Schools, we work to offer a comprehensive and engaging timetable of curricular and extra-curricular opportunities. We all believe that physical activity is vital and should be encouraged as a way of life.”
The sportscotland School Sport Award focuses on 9 core areas:
1. Physical education – All pupils should have access to 2 hours/2 periods of quality physical education.
2. School sport – All pupils should have access to a range of quality extra curricular sports and activities to take part in before, during and after school.
3. Pathways – There should be clear pathways to a range of community sport opportunities to encourage life long participation for all pupils.
4. Compete and perform – Pupils should have opportunities to compete and perform in events, festivals and regular competition.
5. Celebrating sport – Pupils achievements in sport at all levels should be celebrated, including; participation, performance, spectating, leading, coaching and officiating.
6. Leadership – Pupils should have opportunities to lead, coach, officiate and influence sport in their schools.
7. Career Long Professional Learning (CLPL) – All staff and volunteer deliverers should be encouraged to engage in and have access to a range of quality physical education and sport related Career Long Professional Development opportunities.
8. Recognition and awards – Schools should formally and informally recognise the staff and volunteers who give up their time to support, organise or deliver extra curricular sport and physical activity opportunities in the school.
9. Access to school facilities (secondary only) – School should form strong links to local sports clubs and organisations and provide preferential access to school facilities for these linked organisations, where possible.
For more info see: http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/schools/school-sport-awards/
