Schools receive prestigious national award
South Lanarkshire Schools have been given a prestigious national award for this academic year from the national agency for sport.
The sportscotland School Sport Award is given for innovation and achievement in delivering school sport, and 45 South Lanarkshire schools passed with flying colours.
There were 15 new gold awards this year, taking the total number of gold schools in the area to 23.
Biggar, Blackwood, Craigbank, Hareleeshill, Lanark, Law, Leadhills, Netherburn, Robert Owen Memorial, Newfield, St Bride’s RC Bothwell, St Anne’s, St Mark’s RC (Rutherglen), St Kenneth and St Mary’s RC in Hamilton were the primary schools which received new gold awards.
They join eight others in Biggar High, Duncanrig Secondary, Holy Cross High, Kirklandpark Primary, Stonehouse Primary, Strathaven Academy and Underbank Primary in gold award status.
Silver schools in South Lanarkshire are: Burgh Primary, Cairns Primary, Calderglen High, Crosshouse Primary, Park View Primary, St Hilary’s Primary, Beckford Primary, Canberra Primary, Chatelherault Primary, Carstairs Primary, Glengowan Primary, Loch Primary, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary Machanhill Primary, St Cadoc’s Primary, St John the Baptist Primary, St John’s Primary (Hamilton) and Woodside Primary.
Those on bronze awards were Blacklaw, Quarter, St Cuthbert’s and St Vincent’s primary schools.
There are now 673 schools in Scotland that hold a School Sport Award, a record number, meaning that more schools than ever are putting sport at the heart of their ethos.
The number of gold-related schools has increased to 284, a record high and a jump of over a third from last year’s total of 212, with 307 schools being awarded silver status, with 82 bronze.
Funded by the National Lottery, the sportscotland School Sport Award is a national initiative designed to encourage schools to continuously improve physical education and sport.
It puts young people at the forefront of decision-making and planning of physical education and school sport, while increasing opportunities for pupils to take part.
The award also encourages sporting links between schools and the communities around them, providing opportunities for young people to progress.
Stewart Harris, sportscotland CEO, said: “Congratulations to staff and pupils across South Lanarkshire who are putting sport and physical education right at the heart of their school and local community.
“They should be proud of fantastic achievement.
“It’s great to be able to recognise more schools than we ever have before. It shows that pupils, staff and parents across the country see the undoubted value in having sport as a crucial part of school life.” this
To achieve a bronze or silver sportscotland School Sport Award, schools self-assess their current practice. To gain gold, an extensive external assessment is carried out by an independent panel of experts.
The award is supported by the Active Schools Network, a programme that involves sportscotland working in partnership with all 32 local authorities to encourage schools to ensure there are opportunities for all children and young people to engage, participate, and reach their potential.