Sport’s a team effort

ALL ROUNDERS. . . (back, from left) Analyse Corlyon-Goudeau, Josh Cruz and Samuel Marsden. Front: Lauren Culling, Rebecca Stubbs and Georgi Terry

A SPORTS scheme run by Counthill School has once again smashed national targets.

The scheme has been labelled the best schools sports initiative ever after getting 94 per cent of five to 16 year-olds taking part in two hours of PE and sport a week — beating the national average by 4 per cent.

It’s the fourth year running Counthill School Sports Partnership (SSP) has increased the number.

The partnership, between Blue Coat, Breeze Hill, Counthill, Crompton House, Hathershaw, North Chadderton, New Bridge, Royton and Crompton and St Augustine’s and all their feeder primary schools, totals 64 schools.

Partnership development manager Paul Clarke said: “Improved sports teaching at the schools has played a part in benefiting pupils and schools beyond the sports pitch.

“The Government’s PE and Sports Strategy for Young People has also helped towards improving attendance levels, punctuality and behaviour in partner schools.

“The old adage ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ certainly is ringing out loudly among all our nine clusters.

“It has to be the best sports initiative ever in schools.”

He added that the results could not have been achieved without the help of many key partners, in particular, the team of school sport co-ordinators, primary link teachers, Oldham Sports Development and head teachers across the partnership. The target now is to reach the National 2011 ambition, whereby all children will have the opportunity to take part in five hours of PE and sport per week, which will link school sports into sports clubs across Oldham.