Work of PE teachers and staff celebrated at ceremony

Thornhill Primary School, Crags Community School and Aston Fence Junior and Infant School were all given Centre of Excellence status by the Yorkshire Sports Foundation.

Other winners included Lynn Bridgewater, head teacher at Wath Victoria Primary School, who was presented with a lifetime achievement award for more than 30 years’ work in PE.

Ivy Dorchester-Brown, primary PE consultant at Yorkshire Sports Foundation, said: “There is some fantastic work being done in Rotherham and the event was a celebration of that.

“Three primary schools were deemed Centres of Excellence because they encourage every child to be physically active.

“Seven others were given Rotherham Centre of Excellence accreditation.”

Crags Community School was recognised for a project which sees every youngster take part in 25 minutes of physical activity during morning break.

Pupils and staff at Thornhill Primary School walk or run a mile a day, while Aston Fence was rewarded for its PE work.

Mrs Dorchester-Brown said: “The standard of entries was really high this year and we hope that the ceremony will become an annual event.”

Amateur athlete Matthew Asbridge also picked up a certificate from Active Rotherham, the council’s sporting arm, after clocking up more than 2,400 hours as a volunteer in sport.

A total of 88 awards were handed out on the night and Rotherham Academy of Young Leaders was also recognised.

Mrs Dorchester-Brown added: “The event was a great celebration of the fantastic work and was held as part of National School Sports Week.”