Funded by the National Lottery, the sportscotland School Sport Award is presented for innovation and achievement in delivering school sport and physical activity, with over 1000 schools in Scotland now engaged in the award, across all 32 local authorities.
Towards the end of 2022, the award was relaunched, with the emphasis on providing schools the opportunity to focus on continuous improvement and self-evaluation. Following a self-assessment tool process, each school is required to complete an action plan that would inform their goals and actions to develop sport across the year and would be the main consideration for whether they achieved the award.
Since the re-launch, 258 schools across Scotland have been awarded a Gold Award, and over 222 silver and 143 bronze awards have been achieved. With 42% of schools in Scotland having now signed up to the award, the value that it holds for primary, secondary, combined and ASN (Additional Support Needs) is higher than ever.
A Gold School Sport Award is awarded to schools that demonstrate exceptional commitment and dedication to promoting physical activity, sports participation, and overall well-being among their students. The School Sport Award provides a framework for all schools to be recognised across gold, silver and bronze levels and to enable the Active Schools networks and schools to work effectively together. The total number of gold schools now stands at an all-time high, with more schools putting young people at the forefront of decision making and planning of school sport and PE, while also increasing participation opportunities for all.
The Balfron Schools Cluster, comprising of eight schools (Balfron High School, Balfron Primary School Buchlyvie Primary School, Dryman Primary School, Fintry Primary School, Killearn Primary School, Kippen Primary School and Strathblane Primary School) are one of the first school clusters to be awarded the sportscotland Gold School Sport Award. The incredible achievement was celebrated last week (Tuesday 18th June) at their annual school Sports Awards ceremony at Balfron High School. Attended by representatives of sportscotland and other distinguished guests, the evening celebrated the ongoing effort and commitment of the Balfron Schools aiming to achieve excellence and leadership in sport and physical activity.
Throughout the last year, the schools within the cluster have consistently encouraged and supported the pupils to participate in a wide range of sports and physical activities. With the schools reporting that over 90% of pupils have attended extra-curricular activities, their commitment to providing a wide range of sports and physical activities has not only improved their physical health but provided opportunities to learn valuable life skills.
Neil Thomson, Active Schools Co-ordinator with Active Stirling, said, “The School Sport Award has been as great opportunity for all the learning community schools to know exactly how sporty they actually are. The award has really helped in terms of a whole school approach to sport within each of the schools, all staff and all pupils have contributed in some way to achieve Gold for their school.
This award does not happen without the parents and carers who go the extra mile to support and encourage their children to attend extra-curricular sport, festivals, fun fixtures, and professional sport. I love the school sport award and I believe the schools I work in partnership do too, it’s always one of the main priorities when planning sport in each of their schools.”
Elaine Bannatyne, Head Teacher of Balfron High School said: “The achievement of another gold award and in addition to a whole cluster Gold is testament to the value placed on PE, Physical Activity and Sport within the Balfron High School Learning community. We are really proud of being the first cluster to achieve the sportscotland School Sport Award at Gold level in every school.
Our learning community work in partnership with a wide range of agencies, particularly Active Stirling, to provide young people with opportunities to have taster sessions, lunchtime and after school clubs and leadership opportunities within sport and physical activity.
We are very proud of the young people that we have in our Learning Community who are volunteers, coaches, Young Ambassadors and Sports Leaders. Especially important is the Sports Council who meet 3 times a year to discuss Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport and feedback ideas for improvement to staff who then take these into account when planning.”
Minister for Sport, Maree Todd said: “I welcome this record level of participation in the School Sport Award by schools. It demonstrates that children and teachers across Scotland are passionate about sport, physical activity and the many benefits which participation brings.
“Congratulation to Balfron Schools Cluster for being awarded a sportscotland Gold School Sport Award and indeed to all schools that have won a School Sport Award. The commitment to increase young people’s opportunities and engagement in physical education, school sport and leadership will hopefully inspire life-long participation in sport and physical activity."
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “The importance of sport in school life cannot be underestimated and being awarded a sportscotland Gold School Sport Award is testament to the hard work and effort of pupils, teachers, and volunteers across a school.
As the national agency we are committed to helping build communities across the country where sport is a way of life, where young people are at the heart of it. Working with local authorities, governing bodies, and national partners, we are strengthening the links between school sport and the communities around them, as well as helping schools continuously improve and celebrate successful school sport models.”
