In a busy summer of sport, the children of Chester Blue Coat CA Primary School have been raising money for new PE equipment by getting active with a daredevil mountain biker.

Danny Butler, a five-times British and European champion and creator of the Extreme Mountain Bike Show, visited the Garden Quarter as part of an initiative that aims to inspire the next generation and get them moving.

Sports for Schools is a social enterprise that brings top athletes, including Olympians and Paralympians, into primary schools all over the UK. Their mission to help children be more sporty stems from scientific research detailing how physical activity improves many aspects of a child’s life, including their academic performance and general well-being.

Classes each took turns to complete sponsored fitness circuits, which raised nearly £2,000 to be spent on sports resources.

Chester Blue Coat CE Primary School pupils being put through their paces.

Chester Blue Coat CE Primary School pupils being put through their paces.

Danny then held a whole-school assembly and talked to the children about determination and having a positive mindset. He also showed off some amazing skills on his mountain bike, with headteacher Matthew Hover as his brave assistant!

Year 5 sport leader Harrison said: “It was great because it got us moving and highlighted the importance of exercise and movement.”

Year 5 sport ambassador Vera added: “Danny motivated us to work hard and not give up.”

Chester Blue Coat is also celebrating achieving the School Games Mark Gold Award for the third year running. This is a government-led scheme launched in 2012 to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across the school and into the community.

Vicky Page, part of the staff PE team, said: “We are very proud of the developments in physical education this year and glad that all of the hard work, and encouragement of being active and inclusion for all, has paid off."

The school’s commitment to sport and exercise encompassed numerous events and activities, including European Sports Day, Boccia tournaments and the Skipping Ninja Challenge, in which Blue Coat finished second in the country for doing most skips in a week across the whole school.