Orkney secondary schools reach silver sports status

Kirkwall Grammar School and Stromness Academy have both been recognised with a national award for innovation and achievement in delivering physical education and extracurricular sport.

The sportscotland School Sport Award is a national initiative that is designed to encourage schools to continuously improve physical education and sport.

The award also encourages sporting links between schools and the communities around them.

Garry Burton, sport and leisure manager at Orkney Islands Council, said: “This milestone represents a lot of hard work by the schools, their staff, pupils and parents, the council’s Active Schools Team and the local sporting community who generously give their time to support the sporting life of our schools.

“We’ll continue to work hard to give our young people every opportunity to make sport a part of their life, during school and beyond.”

Belinda Warnock principal teacher of PE at Stromness Academy said: “At Stromness Academy students are given the opportunity to participate in and to lead a wide range of sport and physical activity, both in school and in the community.

“This contributes greatly to the ethos of the academy, where youngsters’ contributions are valued, achievements are recognised and positive relationships are nurtured.”

Magnus Garson, principal teacher of PE at Kirkwall Grammar School, added: “We are delighted with the award and are already looking at ways in which we can build on this in years to come.

“We have created a pupil sports committee whose sole job is to run the inter-house sports competitions for all year groups.

“This has provided senior pupils with a sense of responsibility and encouraged others to contribute towards the overall school ethos and support the new house system that was launched prior to the summer holidays.

“We strive to offer our pupils a variety of activities so that students gain a broad range of experiences to enhance their participation in sport and physical activity in school, extracurricular and in the community.”