Today we have had the pleasure of welcoming 276 pupils from 10 local primary schools on to campus to participate in the 2nd Annual Ackworth School Olympic Day, a multi-school sporting event sponsored by the Tim Henman Foundation. Across the day, the children were split into mixed school groups to compete under the banner of one of 18 countries. These countries represent the diversity of student backgrounds at Ackworth School.
The Official Opening of the 2nd Annual Olympic Day
The day kicked-off with an official Opening Ceremony, at which flag bearers lead a procession from the school Green down to the sports fields, and torchbearers carried torches made by Ackworth School First Form pupils (Year 7). The children were split into mixed school groups to compete under the banner of one of 18 countries. These countries represent the diversity of student backgrounds at Ackworth School. Speeches were made by theHead
Olympic Activities
The multi-skill activities that pupils were involved in were accessible to all regardless of skill, level, or individual needs. The events included: foam Javelin throw into different zone distances; agility ladder relay races; kicking a football to a goal; cricket wicket throw over different distances; obstacle course; tennis target (led by Ackworth School tennis coach, Alice Robson). Pupils were awarded points in each activity which were then tallied into a leader table. The top three country teams were then awarded with Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates.
Ackworth School students were involved in running the event, explaining to the country teams what to do at each station, scoring points, and leading each country around the event, encouraging pupils to use different leadership, communication and organisational skills throughout the day.
Special thanks to our local primary schools
The 10 local primary schools which participated in the event are: Ackworth Howard School, Grove Lea Primary School, Larks Hill Primary School, Streethouse Primary School, South Kirby, Coram House (Ackworth Junior School) Walton Primary Academy, Darrington Primary School, Badsworth Primary School, and Fitzwilliam Primary School.
Sponsor Information
The Tim Henman Foundation has generously sponsored the 2nd Annual Olympic Day event, including providing transport to and from all pupils’ school. To date, Ackworth School’s partnership with the Foundation has:
- provided digital technology in the school’s autism resource,
- sponsored a Syrian refugee,
- provided funding for a community tennis coach,
- sponsored tennis and table tennis equipment that has been distributed to primary schools across West Yorkshire.
Comments from the Head
Anton Maree, Head of Ackworth School said, “Without the support of the Tim Henman Foundation it would be impossible to provide opportunities like this Olympic Day for the thousands of children we support at our partner primary schools across the county.
“Ackworth School is perfectly positioned to hold important events like these, making a difference to children from local communities. Olympic Day is a fantastic day for these pupils to try their hand at a variety of sports and activities, hopefully igniting an interest which may one day lead to participation in the real thing.”