Glasgow Gaelic School has been highlighted as an example of sporting excellence after it received a gold sportscotland School Sport Award.
Funded by the National Lottery, the School Sport Award is presented for innovation and achievement in delivering school sport and physical activity, with 747 schools across the country now in possession of an award. It recognises schools that put young people at the forefront of decision making and planning of school sport and PE, while also increasing participation opportunities.
The number of gold schools across Scotland now stands at an all-time high of 399, an increase of 40.5% from last year’s total of 284. A further 274 schools achieved silver and 74 bronze after a significant number of schools completed their continuous improvement journey towards the gold award.
School ethos
Glasgow Gaelic School received a gold award after taking significant steps to embed sport at the heart of the school ethos. In recent years school sport has gone from strength to strength thanks to new and innovative approaches that have created new opportunities for pupils to participate and progress.
The emphasis placed on creating leadership opportunities for pupils particularly impressed the assessment panel. Through its established Young Ambassadors programme, pupils at the school have developed and run several sport clubs including volleyball, table tennis, dodgeball and netball.
Pupils at Glasgow Gaelic School have also excelled in school sport securing medals at the Glasgow Schools Cross Country Championships as well as winning the Glasgow Schools Netball League on two occasions. The netball team also reached the Scottish Cup Final and finished third at an international event in Paris.
Head Teacher at Glasgow Gaelic School, Donalda McComb, said:
“We are very proud to receive this award and delighted to be recognised for all the hard work, participation and sporting achievements of our young people.
"This could not happen without the support and commitment of our fantastic staff and parents.”
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said: “Every person involved should be very proud of this achievement. There is an undoubted value in sport being at the heart of school life. With that in mind we are committed to helping build a Scotland where sport is a way of life and young people in schools are central to this.”
Glasgow Gaelic School has developed a database that monitors the progress of every pupil. The information gathered as part of this process has allowed the school to put in place measures to support pupils making the transition from primary to secondary school through a fitness programme for S1 pupils.
It has also forged strong links with the local community including Park Sports Project, which delivers a range of participation opportunities for young people outside of the school day. As well as football and netball, Park Sports Project also operates a multi-sport club from its base in the school.
Find out more
About the sportscotland School Sport Award.
