West Sussex School Sport Partnership

Inspiring pupils from across the School Sport Partnership (SSP) through Olympic and Paralympic-themed activity

Focus

  • We wanted to engage primary and secondary pupils from across the SSP in a range of Olympic and Paralympic-themed physical and sporting activity during Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week 2010.

Who took part?

  • ‘Coach for a day’ programme: 6,100 young people.
  • ‘Arties Olympics’: 436 infant school students.
  • ‘100 challenges’: hundreds of secondary school students.
  • ‘Dance mat world record attempt’: 130 young people and 20 sports leaders.

What happened? A range of initiatives, including:

  • ‘Coach for the day’ programme: funded through the School Sport Coaching scheme, we used the programme to encourage students to try a new Olympic and Paralympic sport. We sourced judo, fencing and games coaches (who delivered hockey, for example). Primary schools were offered a menu of activities and requested the activity they preferred. One coach per primary school delivered sessions across the key stages and the session content was guided by the need of the school.
  • We encouraged infant schools across the SSP to access the 'Arties Olympics' resource. This was a great way to get infant schools involved.
  • The ‘100 challenges’ focus students on the fact that Bognor Regis is approximately 100 miles to the London Olympic and Paralympic stadium. We held inter-school virtual competitions and school-based challenges around this theme, for example secondary pupils were challenged to run 100m in the quickest time possible whilst primary students were encouraged to run in relays.
  • Dance Mat World Record attempt: catering for pupils who do not ordinarily participate in sporting events, we have been confirmed by Guinness as holding the record for the most people dancing on dance mats simultaneously.
  • To raise awareness of the Olympic and Paralympic Values, Leadership Academy students helped deliver assemblies on the Olympic Values, the week before or during Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week. Each day focused on one of the Olympic and Paralympic Values.
  • Headteacher at St. Richard’s School: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to try out a new sport. More of the same next year please.”
  • Pupil from St. Barnham School: “It was the best session in the world, I’d never had so much fun in my life.”
  • Parent from East Wittering School: "We loved seeing all the children compete in something they would never normally do and there was something for everyone to have a go at.”

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