Foundation News
The Olympic values of 'Aspire & Achieve' have been taken to heart by teachers and pupils alike at Springvale Primary School
6th September 2012
THE LONDON 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games set out to inspire a generation and the students of Springvale School in Barnsley certainly have been inspired. At the beginning of 2012, the school took on the challenge of instilling in its pupils the Olympic and Paralympic values of 'Aspire and Achieve' by motivating them to participate in their very own Olympic games.
Springvale's entire school year was themed around the Olympic and Paralympic games and got off to a great start when Ed Clancy, Gold medalist in the Beijing and now London Olympics and ex-pupil came in to visit the children and tell them about what it is like to be an Olympian. The school even had their very own torch relay on the day in which teachers, students and Ed Clancy ran around the corridors of the school.
After this exciting start to the school year, training began for the children who were encouraged to try and beat their best times in activities such as sprinting and relay racing. The children's efforts were recorded so they could be compared to their final efforts on the sports day.
Sports tutor, Alison Whitely had this to say about the school children's heroic effort to do well, "All the children, from Year 1 to 6, have participated with great enthusiasm throughout the year. Their fundamental movement skills have improved by leaps and bound, and they are now working faster, higher and stronger!"
The children were given further incentive to 'Aspire & Achieve' when just before sports day, the Olympic Torch passed through Barnsley and even better, one of the legs was ran by a parent of the school who came in to show the torch to the children.
Sports day finally arrived and each child put their whole heart and soul into participating in the activities, cheered on by proud parents and teachers.
One parent said on the day, "It was lovely to see all the children cheering each other on and see their friends win or lose and still supporting each other. It was a fantastic day. I hope it is one of many to come."
Children that won were awarded medals on a podium made especially for the event and given flowers made of tissue paper, wire and lollipop sticks. Awards for all of the children's efforts didn't stop there however as every child was given a medal and certificate for achieving their personal best in the activities they participated in. An amazing 99.4% of the children improved on their personal best from the beginning of the year in the sprints alone.
Springvale School's dedication to its pupils and hard work to involve them in the Olympic and Paralympic games has been a huge success. Not only did it inspire all of its pupils to 'Aspire & Achieve', it gave these children a new love and respect for sport.
The Newham Barnsley Partnership Aspiration and Achievement Fund from South Yorkshire Community Foundation helped fund Springvale School's year of sport, and the school also received ample support from the local community and local businesses.
