Silver medal for the sports at Blair High
School’s PE department scoops sportscotland prize
The PE department at Blairgowrie High has been recognised for the work it does with pupils and local sports clubs and organisations with an award.
And staff have said they plan to follow the silver School Sport Award from sportscotland with a gold award in the near future.
The national initiative is designed to encourage schools to continuously improve PE and school sport opportunities, as well as putting young people at the forefront of decision making and planning of the subject.
The silver award for Blairgowrie High’s PE department is recognitition of the standards being met by the team there.
Siobhan Penman, principal teacher at the PE department, along with Active Schools coordinator for the area Caroline Lawrie, presented sportscotland with evidence of the work they do in order to meet the required criteria and standards.
Ms Penman said: “We’re delighted to have been recognised in this way for the work we already do, and are really pleased that we are already at silver level.
“Sportscotland look at what sports are on offer at a school, the current levels of participation and how we engage the pupils and give them a chance to give us feedback.
“We also offer pupils opportunities for leadership and to gain sporting qualifications. “
One of the aspects of the PE department’s approach recognised Pupils involved in the rugby festival in conjunction with Perthshire RFC
by the award is its young ambassadors programme for pupils and its sports council.
Blairgowrie High currently has three young ambassadors – Conall McIntyre and Leia Pol in S5 and Hannah Robertson in S6 – who, as well as being ambassadors for sport in the school, are also members of its sports council.
Other sports council members include Rhys Fraser and Fraser Matthews in S5 and S3 pupils Chelsea Tindall, Jade Doig and Mollie Castle.
The sports council, which was first
set up in August 2015, is responsible for organising and delivering more sports in the school.
Since starting out, members have organised an inter-house triathlon competition including a cross country running event, a rugby festival in conjunction with Perthshire RFC, and a basketball festival.
They are now looking to take a higher profile role that will see them raising awareness of what is happening in terms of sport and opportunities for physical activities in the school. Caroline Lawrie and Andy Dingwall, deputy head at Blairgowrie High