St Mary’s Primary School in the running for Greater Manchester Sports Award

St Mary’s Primary School, Middleton, in the running for a Greater Manchester Sports Award

St Mary’s Primary School, Middleton, has been put forward by the region’s mayor Andy Burnham to be in the running for a Greater Manchester Sports Award.

The Greater Manchester Sports Awards recognise the incredible achievements and dedication towards physical activity and sport across the region.

This year a new Mayor’s Award recognises an individual or organisation that shows outstanding commitment to Greater Manchester Moving and their target to achieve 75% of people being active or fairly active by 2025. Finalists are specially selected by Mr Burnham as recognition of their commitment to physical activity.

Ben Lavin, headteacher at St Mary’s, said: “Our passionate sport and physical ethos does not only inspire and motivate our students but has, in the last four years, cemented our absolute belief that St Mary’s is about loving unique sporting experiences and outdoor learning. All our learning is linked to healthy living but most importantly the building of all our pupils’ self-esteem, love of engaging, purposeful exercise and becoming healthier children.”

St Mary’s was personally selected by the Mayor for its commitment to a range of sport and diverse experiences, and outdoor learning for all children.

The Mayor was particularly impressed at the achievements they were making for a primary school. More than 420 children are engaged weekly in over three hours high quality activity, usually seen at secondary school level.

Children are active from 8.10am in the morning, through the lunchtime clubs to the wide range after school sport clubs. They also do 150 minutes of high-quality PE each week, bike-ability, the Daily Mile and forest school sessions as well as ballet for boys, American football, horse riding, sailing, rock climbing and golf. The school is also committed to making sure every child can ride a bike by the end of reception year.

Councillor Kieran Heakin, Rochdale Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “St Mary’s is doing fantastic work on physical activity with pupils. This nomination is a great reward for their hard work and dedication. Their commitment to improving health outcomes for children is rightly being commended and is another success story for our schools. I wish them all the best for the finals, we are proud to have them representing the borough.”

The addition of this new award highlights the Mayor’s support and passion to get Greater Manchester Moving to change the lives of people across Greater Manchester through physical activity and sport.

Mr Burnham said: “Giving our young people a healthy start in life, reducing inequalities, keeping us physically and socially active as we age – these are worth more than the silverware in any club’s cabinet and such achievements should be recognised and rewarded. I couldn’t be prouder of presenting the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Award, and am very much looking forward to meeting the nominees on the night.”

The Greater Manchester Sports Awards return for their 18th year on Friday 16 November at Emirates Old Trafford, and St Mary’s is also up for an award in the ‘School Commitment to PE and Sport’ category.