Church visits pay off

A Southwell school has gained an award for its physical activity provision for the second consecutive year.

Holy Trinity Infants’ School received the Activemark 2008 for the amount of exercise the pupils take part in.

The Activemark, awarded by Sport England, requires the school to provide at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport a week.

Physical activity has become more and more important at the school in recent years.

A canopy has been installed over an area where younger children do physical activity, and all-weather pitches will be officially opened later this month.

The school also works with a group of schools in the area and has taken part in a tennis tournament.

Every morning, the children take part in Activate, a physical exercise routine designed to make their brains ready for the start of the day.

Last year, swimming lessons at Southwell Leisure Centre were introduced for children aged five and six.

In May an additional 50 children aged five to seven will have the opportunity to swim.

The school has no hall and uses Holy Trinity Church for indoor sporting activities.

Head Mrs Julie Rischer said that community involvement was also important and a parent involved with Southwell Football Club had worked with pupils.

Mrs Rischer said: “I think it is excellent. All the children can access it at their own level.

“Across the year the children get every single aspect of the curriculum that they need in physical exercise. We are doing really well.”

The school holds the award for one year and can use the Activemark logo on documents.