Redwood Secondary School wins School Games Platinum Award

Redwood School

Redwood Secondary School has become one of the first schools in England to win the special School Games Platinum Award for making a commitment to develop its students to be the best they can be in competitive school sport.

The Award is part of the School Games Mark, a government led awards scheme launched in 2012 and administered by national charity the Youth Sport Trust. Its aim is to reward schools for a commitment to the development of competition across schools and into the community.

David Butterworth, Head of PE, said: We are extremely proud and honoured to be one of the first schools in the country to be awarded the Platinum mark."

Clare John, headteacher, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this news. Credit must go to the staff team and the young people for all the hard work and dedication. Redwood is committed to inclusion in all areas and aspiration in sport is something that we are extremely proud of here at Redwood."

The Platinum Award is the new fourth level of the award scheme, introduced earlier this year to celebrate schools who had shown consistently high-levels of enthusiasm and commitment to school sport. Applications are only open to those schools who achieved five successive gold awards.

To achieve the gold award a school must meet a certain set of criteria, which includes engaging a high percentage of young people in both curricular and extracurricular activities, participating in a minimum number of competitions across different sports, and reaching out to target groups including young leaders, volunteers, and those previously identified as the school’s least-active pupils.

Ali Oliver, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “We are pleased to introduce the new Platinum Award this year to give these exemplary schools the recognition which they deserve.

“At a time when young people are becoming less healthy and less active, the School Games provides opportunities for millions across the country to participate in sport and reap the benefits of an active lifestyle both on and off the field. Schools like Redwood are really leading the way.”