Haslam Park Achieves the Silver School Games Mark Award!

Celebrating Excellence, Inclusion and Opportunity in School Sport

We are incredibly proud to announce that Haslam Park Primary School has achieved the Silver School Games Mark Award, recognising our commitment to physical education, school sport, physical activity and providing positive sporting opportunities for our children.

The School Games Mark is a nationally recognised award that celebrates schools demonstrating a commitment to developing high-quality, inclusive sporting opportunities and encouraging children to lead healthy, active lifestyles.

Achieving the Silver Award is particularly meaningful to us because it recognises an approach to school sport that extends beyond traditional PE lessons and competitive success.

At Haslam Park, we believe that sport and physical activity should be for every child, regardless of their background, ability, confidence or individual needs.

What Does Achieving the Silver Award Mean?

The Silver School Games Mark recognises schools that demonstrate a planned, inclusive and purposeful approach to physical education, sport and physical activity.

The award criteria consider how schools:

• Promote active lifestyles: Encourage pupils to be physically active throughout the school day and develop positive attitudes towards lifelong physical activity.

• Provide inclusive opportunities: Consider the barriers faced by children with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those who may lack confidence or previous sporting experiences.

• Offer meaningful sporting experiences: Provide opportunities for children to participate in competitions, festivals, personal challenges and activities appropriate to their abilities and interests.

• Promote equality: Review sporting opportunities to ensure that boys and girls have equitable access to participation.

• Listen to pupil voice: Involve children in shaping sporting activities and consider their interests, confidence and motivations.

• Develop confidence and character: Use sport to support teamwork, resilience, leadership, communication, perseverance and positive relationships.

• Promote physical literacy: Help children develop the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and enjoy physical activity.

• Work with families and partners: Communicate sporting opportunities and work with others to promote participation and positive experiences.

Our Silver Award recognises Haslam Park's achievement against the national School Games Mark framework.

Why This Matters So Much at Haslam Park

Our school context makes our commitment to inclusive physical education and school sport particularly important.

We serve a community with significant levels of socio-economic disadvantage, a high proportion of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), children who speak English as an additional language (EAL), and considerable pupil mobility.

We recognise that not all children have the same opportunities to access organised sport, clubs, facilities or physical activities outside school.

Some children may experience financial barriers, limited access to transport or equipment, physical or sensory needs, communication differences, or a lack of confidence in participating in traditional sporting activities.

We do not believe that a child's circumstances, additional needs or previous experiences should determine their opportunities to enjoy sport and physical activity.

Instead, our context strengthens our responsibility to create opportunities that are accessible, engaging and meaningful.

For us, inclusion means more than allowing children to take part. It means considering what each child needs to participate successfully, feel a sense of belonging, develop confidence and experience achievement.

We are ambitious for every child, whether they are representing Haslam Park in a sporting competition, discovering a new activity, developing fundamental movement skills or overcoming personal barriers to participation.

More Than Sport – Developing the Whole Child

We recognise that high-quality physical education and positive sporting experiences contribute significantly to children's wider personal development.

Through physical activity and sport, children can develop confidence, resilience, independence, teamwork, communication and leadership skills.

These opportunities are particularly valuable within our school community, where we are committed to broadening experiences, raising aspirations and supporting children's physical and emotional wellbeing.

Success in sport is not measured solely by winning competitions. It is also measured by participation, personal improvement, confidence, enjoyment and the development of skills that children carry into other aspects of their lives.

Our ambition is for every child to develop a positive relationship with physical activity and recognise that sport, movement and healthy lifestyles are for them.

Our Commitment to Continued Improvement

We are delighted that our commitment has been recognised through the Silver School Games Mark.

However, we see this achievement not simply as an award to celebrate, but as an opportunity to reflect on our provision and continue improving.

We remain committed to understanding who participates in physical activity, identifying children who may experience barriers, listening to pupil voice and ensuring that our sporting opportunities reflect the needs of our school community.

At Haslam Park, our context does not limit our ambition. It strengthens our determination to ensure that every child has access to the opportunities, experiences and encouragement they deserve.

We are incredibly proud of our pupils and staff for contributing to this achievement.

Silver today, with the ambition to keep improving for every child.

Together we explore, learn and grow.