Skye school shortlisted in national awards.
Portree Primary School has been shortlisted in the, Outstanding Sporting Initiative or Partnership category of the UK TES School Awards 2012.
The school has been recognised for its approach to health, fitness and sport as a central priority and core part of the education it offers. Three representatives from the school have been invited to an awards ceremony in London on 6th July.
The TES Schools Awards celebrate and reward the professionalism and flair of those teams making an outstanding contribution to primary, secondary and special needs schools in the UK.
Pupils, parents, teachers, volunteers and the local business community have all worked together to create a healthy fitness agenda within the school. All pupils get two hours of PE a week and all pupils in P3-P7 have weekly swimming lessons.
The school in conjunction with their parent body established Portree Junior Sports Club to support health and fitness and coaching for all pupils. The club along with support from school staff has developed coaching for parents and the school offers an enviable extra-curricular programme including: shinty, football, basketball, badminton, swimming, running club, dance, cheer- leading, Fit Kids, orienteering, badminton, and plans for golf are to be included.
To promote fitness and outdoor health the school also offers a gardening club and walking in the summer and is actively involving pupils in the John Muir Award.
With so many active pupils, the school has reaped rewards in national sporting events as Scottish swimming and shinty events. To support the involvement of pupils in healthy activities the school and business community fund-raised to buy a mini-bus and pupils now travel all over Scotland to play sports. The school has also established links in Ireland and has visited there to promote shinty/ hurling exchanges.
In the lead up to London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 Portree Primary is planning to host their own Olympic Games and use this as a catalyst to try new things and inspire new recruits to participate in sport and healthy, active, pursuits. The school has already created their own mascot, logo, Olympic song and healthy banners. The opening ceremony takes place on 25th May and everyone in the school, parent body and local community will be involved.
The school is currently planning a crofting project for one of its classes and also gets visits from the NHS dietician to promote healthy eating. The school supports Sport Relief and other healthy charity events and tries to use these to further enthuse pupils and parents about being active. The school has strong links with local sports clubs and uses the expertise from within them to coach and support activities.