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School leads way with sports academy status
DELIGHT ... St Wilfrid's RC College has been awarded sports leadership academy status.
A SCHOOL in South Tyneside has been awarded sports leadership academy status.
St Wilfrid’s RC College in South Shields has become the first school in the borough to be recognised by Sports Leaders UK, a charity which recognises sporting achievement.
It reflects the Temple Park Road school’s eight-year commitment to developing teenage pupils into young sports coaches, known as sports leaders.
More than 100 pupils, aged 13 to 16, at St Wilfrid’s provide coaching for primary school children at sports fairs across South Tyneside each year, focusing on athletics, tennis, badminton, dance, and other activities.
Helen Nuttall, PE teacher at St Wilfrid’s, said: “We are delighted to be awarded with the status.
“It reflects the work of everyone at the school, and the dedication of our pupils.”
Miss Nuttall, who has been at the school for 11 years, founded the sports leaders’ programme in 2003.
It benefits pupils who want a career in sports coaching, but is also a key part of their overall development.
Miss Nuttall added: “It is a nationally-accredited course, and it helps the youngsters to learn leadership skills which can be used in all subject areas, and in everyday life.
“It is great that we have been recognised, and it is the pinnacle of what we have been doing at the college.”
In a letter to St Wilfrid’s, Sports Leaders UK operations director Michaela Hutchings said: “Sports Leaders UK recognises your organisation as a beacon of good practice, and a shining example of a centre going the extra mile to support its learners.
“We will be showcasing the success to other organisations throughout the UK and the world, as a model of best practice which other centres should work towards to achieve excellence.
“You have earned this unique status because you have been able to demonstrate your commitment to the leadership to young people and the community.”
A special celebration will take place at St Wilfrid’s later this month, when the school will be presented with a special sports leadership academy plaque. The award is the latest chapter in St Wilfrid’s recent story of success.
The school was taken off the official ‘failing’ list in January, after being placed in special measures back in October 2010.
And last week, the school was celebrating after league tables showed 91 per cent of its GCSE pupils gained five or more A* to C grades across all subjects.
Twitter: @ShieldsGazJoe
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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