AN Ellesmere Port school has hit the gold standard in a record-breaking year for PE and sport.

Little Sutton C of E Primary School has achieved the prestigious Gold School Games Mark for 2021/22 after its most successful year of sport and PE in the school’s history.

Notable sporting success for the school includes pupils being crowned 2022 Ellesmere Port and Neston Street Dance Champions, Crewe Alexandra Girls’ Football County Finalists, Chester City Girls' Football Finalists, Everton Football Year 4 North West Champions, Ellesmere Port and Neston Gymnastics County Finalists and North West Girls' Cricket County Finalists.

Alongside success in competitions across Chester, Ellesmere Port, Neston and Warrington, the school has also developed inclusive PE and school sport opportunities for all pupils, with more before school, lunchtime and extracurricular clubs available.

The gold award is Little Sutton Primary School’s third School Games Mark in the last four years, achieving the Silver School Games Mark in 2018 and the Virtual School Games Mark in 2019.

The School Games Mark is a government led awards scheme launched in 2012 to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community. Participating in this process allows schools to evaluate their PE provision and assists them in developing an action plan for future progress.

Callum Bowness, Year 6 Teacher and PE Co-ordinator at the Berwick Road school said its success was testament to the talent, hard work and determination of pupils: “I am incredibly proud of each and every pupil at our school. From Reception to Year 6, our pupils are encouraged to reach their potential by becoming resilient, engaged, ambitious, creative and healthy.

"Sport, PE and healthy activity helps our pupils to attain all of these values and be the best that they can be. Our successes this year are testament to our pupils living the school values each and every day.”

Little Sutton C of E works closely with the Ellesmere Port School Sport Partnership, participating in many events organised by the partnership.

Mark Poole is the school games organiser and praised the efforts of the school to give its pupils access to a full range of sporting activities: “Little Sutton C of E Primary School has set a really high bar in terms of ensuring every child and young person has equal access to PE and school sport.

"They have ensured that their children have had the opportunities they deserve, whether that is 2 hours of PE lessons a week or being given the chance to represent their school. Leadership has been apparent throughout the school, not only by their amazing team but via student leadership in its various forms. Keep up the good work all.”

Zoe Carciero is the Executive Principal of Little Sutton C of E Primary School and said: "We are so proud of both our children and our team for the dedication to our school values, which has led to our Gold School Games Mark. We’re a small school, and rely on each and every pupil to play a full part in school life, and in doing so, discover new talents and strengths.

“Sport should be inclusive for all, and over the past few years, we’re pleased to have created a platform for all of our pupils to grow and develop within the school sport domain.

"Whether that’s our girls’ football team bringing home trophies, our sports leaders being out on the playground encouraging healthy exercise and play, or a child trying a sport they’ve never experienced before through an event or activity at school. We look forward to continuing to build on this success, creating even more opportunities for our children.”