Sporting fun for school children

Held at Prestfelde School, on London Road, 13 local primary schools were invited to join its own two Year 2 teams in a day of sporting activities.

The joint venture with Shrewsbury School Games Partnership saw children engage in parachute games, ball skills and athletics.

Each of the participating teams waved their school flag at the opening ceremony and a warm up was led by Sundorne sports leaders. Young sports leaders from Prestfelde and Sundorne School took on roles for the event. Some were involved with the planning, organising and delivery of skills and some young leaders became team managers and inspired participants to do their best.

Prestfelde welcomed an additional 200 people during the day and provided 11 staff members to oversee activities. Year 8 pupils, who have now finished common entrance examinations, also lent a hand.

Shrewsbury mayor Jane Mackenzie attended the event and was impressed with the emphasis on participation and fun for all.

She said: “It is fantastic that Prestfelde is sharing its grounds with local schools to enjoy. I am particularly pleased as the event is in my own ward (Bayston Hill, Column and Sutton).

“Given my background as a health professional, I am very much aware of the increasing issues surrounding childhood obesity and it is wonderful to see how the day at Prestfelde has been designed to encourage participation for all and make sport enjoyable.”

Prestfelde’s head of Girls’ Games Tina Owen said: “We were delighted to be hosting the key stage one event again. It really is a highlight in our school calendar.

“Sharing our facilities allowed us to give young people the opportunity to take part in this wonderful event whilst making new friends and having a lot of fun.

“The School Games Day event is great for developing our young people’s wider personal, social and creative skills. School Games values of self-belief, determination, respect, team-work, honesty and passion were evident in every activity.

“Although rain eventually stopped play we had an enormous amount of fun and look forward to hosting the event next year.”

Schools involved included Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary School, The Wilfred Owen School, Coleham Primary School, Greenfields Primary School, Longden Primary School, The Grange School, Mount Pleasant Primary School, Greenacres Primary School, Martin Wilson Primary School, Trinity Primary School and Severndale School.