3rd Annual Conference Report
Champions drop in on Salford teachers to congratulate their commitment.
On Friday 7th October School Sport Partnerships in Salford, hosted by All Hallows RC Business, Enterprise and Sports College held their 3rd Annual Primary Physical Education and School Sport Conference at Lancashire County Cricket Club. The conference was an opportunity to bring people from all Primary Schools across the city together and consider how they can use the Olympic Games 2012 to encourage and inspire young people.
The title for the conference Your PE Legacy, explored how Physical Education and school sport can be used to influence Healthy Lifestyle choices and how the Olympics 2012 can be used as a catalyst to motivate them.
Darren Campbell, Manchester’s own Olympic, European and Commonwealth gold medallist opened the conference with an inspirational message which focussed on the importance of self belief in achieving anything in life. His fascinating journey to Olympic victory helped teachers to understand that they can’t always see the contribution they are making to the lives of young people, but giving them a dream is something that stays with them long after they leave school. He thanked all the Primary School teachers in attendance, as removal of the Physical Education and School Sport Strategy and ring-fenced funding had made it much more difficult for schools to develop these for young people. He commended their commitment as an ambassador for the Youth Sport Trust.
Later on in the morning Mark Chilton, a key member of Lancashire’s County Championship winning team joined in a Morning Move It workshop, designed to raise activity levels among primary age children. Nick Thompson from Salford Strategic Development Team also presented the exciting opportunities that schools will have to be involved in the run up to the Olympic Games.
Following this address, delegates went to workshops on Matalan Sporting Promise a general games programme for Key Stage 2; Partnership Opportunities services on offer from Salford School Sport Partnership; Athletics; Pocket Fit a fitness programme for children; Children’s Activity Challenge– personal challenges for children to achieve in the build up to Olympics 2012.
Peter Wright, Head Teacher of St Peter’s CE Primary said “Not only was Darren Campbell’s address inspirational, but the coaching sessions which followed gave us top-quality advice on how to pass on the benefits of sporting endeavour to the next generation of potential athletes.”
The conference was attended by 60 members of staff from 53 Salford schools. The conference organiser Mrs Elaine Gilmore from All Hallows R.C. Business, Enterprise and Sports College said, “Darren Campbell provided a fine example of success in the face of adversity. As School Sport Partnerships have come under threat across the country, it is a testament to the commitment of teachers in Salford, and to Salford NHS who helped fund the event, that our conference could run so successfully for a 3rd consecutive year.”