On the evening of Wednesday 8 February, representatives of St Paul’s C of E Primary School were delighted to be presented with the Dacorum Sports School of the Year Award 2006. Some of you may have noticed a recent article in the Hemel Hempstead Gazette featuring the event. The school was in good company, joining a number of other individuals, teams and groups whose achievements were also being recognised. Raising the profile of sport in the school has been a priority for some time, but great strides have been made in the last couple of years in extending provision and in improving the quality of teaching and learning. We are therefore really pleased that the award recognises our hard work and excellent progress in this field.
At St Paul’s we are very aware of the need to offer the children as broad a range of opportunities and experiences as possible, particularly in the primary years when so many of our children are motivated, responsive and keen to learn. This varied, exciting programme takes place in school time, but also extends after school hours. We are also very clear about the responsibility that we share with parents to teach children about healthy living, fitness and enjoyment, and to provide a curriculum that enables them to achieve good levels of physical fitness through a healthy diet of sport and exercise.
In recent months, in addition to the normal range of activities covered by the National Curriculum for PE, netball, football, indoor golf, gymnastics, tag rugby, games club, lacrosse and cross country have also been provided at the school. On average 30 to 35 children consistently attend after-school activities, with up to 40 in some cases. This includes boys and girls of all abilities and all levels of experience.
Notable achievements in recent months include the football team winning their way through to the knock-out stages of the Dacorum Primary Schools league, Evan and Francesca winning a first and third place, respectively, in the recent Hawridge and Cholesbury cross-country meeting and Jessica (aged just 7) gaining the BAGA gymnastic awards levels 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1!
Through our membership of the excellent Schools Sports Co-ordinator Partnership, linking us with other local schools and sports clubs, we have benefited from a wide range of staff training, sports equipment and organised school sports festivals covering many of the primary age groups.
I would like to express my thanks to the staff at St Paul’s whose hard work and commitment ensures that the provision of out of hours sport is maintained to a high standard and without charge to parents. Thanks also to the parents who regularly come to school to help with our busy programme and who often help transport children from one event to another!
We are always happy to receive visitors at the school. We are very proud of our children and of the good work that the school does. If you would like to know more about St Paul’s, or are interested in seeing how we work, please call me on 01923 262340. The school’s website address is www.stpauls909.herts.sch.uk
Lyndon Evans, Headteacher