Ryvers School has just been awarded their first ever Platinum School Games Mark, testament to the hard work from the teaching staff.
The School Games Mark is a government-led award scheme. It celebrates schools' commitment to developing competitive sport within their school and community. It allows schools to assess their PE provision and create an action plan for improvement.
Applications are assessed against the set criteria once submitted. This determines whether the school qualifies for bronze, silver, or gold. Local School Games Organisers (SGOs) verify applications, and some applications will undergo external validation to ensure accuracy.
Slough school applications are verified by SGOs Yolanda Gutteridge and Laura Brookstein who run the Slough School Sport & Physical Activity Network in the borough, based at Wexham School. A platinum award is available for schools that achieve gold awards for four years in a row. The platinum award is valid for two years.
The School Games Mark follows the School Games’ objectives. Schools must show how they:
- maintain and increase engagement in the School Games, and ensure every child gets 60 active minutes per day. For SEND students, this would be 20 minutes per day
- organise competitions that provide positive experiences tailored to students’ motivation, confidence, and abilities
- focus on key transition points, such as Year 3 and Year 6/7, and how secondary schools take part in the School Games
- support the personal development of targeted students through youth engagement and leadership
- engage key stakeholders to promote the value of the School Games and enhance local provision
- provide equal opportunities for all young people, regardless of gender
- understand and develop their approach to physical literacy.
Awards so far for Slough schools for the 24/25 academic year are below.
Gold School Games Mark Awards for 24/25 so far are:
- Long Close School
- St Bernards Preparatory School
- Cippenham School
- Claycots
- The Langley Academy
- The Langley Academy Primary
- Herschel Grammar School
- Langley Grammar School
- St Joseph’s Catholic High School
- Godolphin Junior Academy
- Littledown School
Silver so far:
- Ditton Park Academy
- Beechwood School
Bronze so far:
- Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy
As Platinum is a two-year award, schools that hold Platinum already for the 24/25 year are: Montem Academy and Iqra Slough Islamic Primary School as they gained it in 23/24, and prior to that Lynch Hill School Primary Academy is also a Platinum Award school. The Awards are still open until 31 July so there is still plenty of time for schools to apply.
Pete Rowe, Executive Headteacher, Ryvers School, said: “We are hugely proud to have received recognition for all the amazing opportunities pupils at Ryvers are given to explore, experience, develop and excel in a huge variety of sports. Healthy bodies and minds combined with teamwork and just plain good fun is embedding 'wellbeing' at the very centre of our pupils’ lives. It is a great 'fit'!”
Councillor Puja Bedi, lead member for children & lifelong learning, said: “I am delighted to hear Ryvers have achieved the Platinum School Games Mark Award and join other schools who have earned the accolade. They have encouraged their pupils to be active consistently, which is a great habit to build for a healthy future. Well done to all the schools who have won awards.”
For more information on the School Games Mark or the Slough School Sport & Physical Activity Network, please contact Laura Brookstein, Network Manager on sssn@wexham.slough.sch.uk