Sunnyfields Primary School awarded Centre of Excellence status

The accreditation has been awarded in the category of PE Lessons – one of seven categories linked to the Creating Active Schools framework that was devised in Yorkshire in 2019.

As part of the scheme, they will share their best practice examples with other schools to support stronger PE, school sport and physical activity from more schools.

In awarding the accreditation, it was noted how the school priorities physical education among staff, providing dedicated time in development meetings; offering CPD opportunities; and using external companies to enhance teachers’ ability to deliver PE lessons, as opposed to simply teaching the lessons themselves.

Every staff member also leads an after-school club in an area they are passionate about, and time and resource is provided to ensure active learning is part of lessons throughout the curriculum.

“We are incredibly proud to have received and been recognised for being a centre of excellence for physical activity,” said Jamie MacConnachie, PE Lead at Sunnyfields Primary School.

“Here at Sunnyfields, we value the importance of being physically active for both your physical and mental wellbeing.”

Daniel Neath, Communities Officer (South Yorkshire) at Yorkshire Sport Foundation, commented: “Sunnyfields Primary School are a fantastic example of a school that is benefitting from putting physical activity at the heart of what they do.

“It is clear that the school has created a culture where physical education is central to what they do, and they are continually assessing and evolving to the benefit of the staff and most importantly, the pupils.

“I’d like to congratulate everyone involved who has played their part in achieving this accreditation, and we look forward to sharing that knowledge with many more schools locally and regionally.”