Langholm and Canonbie Schools Scoop Gold

Canonbie and Langholm Primary Schools were awarded the sportscotland Gold School Sport Award at presentations held on Tuesday at each primary school.

A joint cluster event was also organised at Langholm Academy to celebrate sport with the secondary school also being praised for achieving a Silver Award in preparation of future work being led by young people.

Invited guests heard from teachers and children about sport across the cluster and were treated to inspirational sporting displays from pupils. S5 pupil, Matthew Grieve and Head Girl, Leanne Donald thanked all who have given up their time and shown a true commitment to sport across the cluster. Special thanks were also offered to parents and coaches for their support.

The Gold School Sport Award is recognition of the schools’ achievements in putting sport at the heart of their planning, practice and ethos. The Gold Award also highlights that the school has shown excellent practice across the core areas of the award.

Jane Leavey, Partnership Manager for sportscotland attended each school and congratulated the schools for their wider achievements and sporting philosophy. At Canonbie Primary School, evidence provided by Depute Head Teacher, Mrs Wilson, previous PE teacher Mr Trail and Hayley Powell, Active Schools and Community Sport Officer, demonstrated an on-going commitment to increasing young people’s opportunities and engagement in physical education, school sport and leadership and provision of clear pathways to life-long participation in sport.

Councillor Jeff Leaver, chair of Children, Young People and Lifelong Learning, said: “This is an excellent achievement for the schools in Langholm and Canonbie and demonstrates their commitment in providing opportunities for children to participate, progress and develop through sport. Sport can make a significant contribution to broader outcomes across health, education and skills development and many congratulations to the school on their award.”

Councillor Ros Surtees, vice chair, said: ”These awards are a national scheme for physical education and sport that encourages schools to self-reflect and puts young people at the forefront of the decision making and planning of PE and sport in their school. The Gold School Sport Award recognised the schools had put sport at the heart of the school’s planning, practice and ethos and also highlights excellent practice across the nine core areas of the award.”

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “Congratulations to all of the staff and pupils at Langholm and Canonbie Cluster for putting physical education and sport at the heart of their schools and local communities. They should all be extremely proud of this fantastic achievement. At sportscotland we’re 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 of sport, we are creating closer links between physical education, school sport and club sport, which benefit young people by providing more and better opportunities to take part in sport.”

Cluster Headteacher, Ms Brown said “We are immensely proud of our children and young people – they are active, enthusiastic participants who show great commitment to physical education and sport from early years through to the end of S6. I am very grateful to the many staff, parents, partners and coaches who support, encourage and give of their time to to make achievements like this a reality”