Keeping the Olympic flame burning for years to come.
Why Get Set?
Maricourt (Sefton, North West) aimed to enrich and strengthen the curriculum by incorporating the Olympic and Paralympic Values into daily teaching and learning and to inspire and motivate children in and out of school.
Joining Get Set would help develop an Olympic atmosphere around the school community and improve knowledge and understanding of the Olympic Games.
The Journey So Far
Junior sports leaders have held Olympic multi skills events for feeder primary schools promoting healthy competition, teamwork and friendship; they were enjoyed by leaders and participants alike.
Achievements will be celebrated in special Olympic assemblies promoting the Values. Each assembly will include a dance production based on the Olympic Games to emulate an opening ceremony and enrich the experience for both staff and students. A new assessment policy links National Curriculum attainment to bronze, silver and gold medals.
In a bid to celebrate Maricourt’s most talented sports stars a hall of fame has been set up with pictures of students and their achievements. Colourful display boards have been designed to promote the Olympic and Paralympic Values and celebrate the successful Olympic legacy. An Olympic pledge tree has been created from pledge leaves written by individual students.
Positive Values
Maricourt’s new assessment policy has developed into a positive and useful tool allowing students to track their own progress in PE. Students are more involved in their assessment and progress and there has been a positive impact on attainment. The hall of fame has also been very successful and will continue to be used as a means of promoting and celebrating excellence.
Students are inspired by the determination of athletes and seeing how the Olympic and Paralympic Games allow people of different abilities and cultures to compete against each other and gain success on a global scale.
And the highlights for students?
- “The games inspire me to never give up on what I want and push myself to achieve what I am capable of”
- “The athletes respect each other and make new friends”
- “The games inspire me to work as hard as you can in school, and continue to achieve later in life”
- “The Paralympic Games inspire me because even if you have a disability you can still follow your dream and work to win a gold medal.”
Towards 2012
Olympic multi skills events for primary schools will take place annually as will student-led Olympic assemblies celebrating sporting successes throughout the year. Sports day will have an Olympic theme and be linked to PSHE with students learning about countries taking part in the Games. Students will have further opportunities to develop leadership skills and take ownership of their learning.
It is hoped that London 2012 will inspire Maricourt’s elite athletes to continue training hard and that all students will be inspired to achieve their own personal goals and dreams.
Maricourt looks forward to the exciting lead up to London 2012 with some students maybe even experiencing the full Olympic atmosphere for themselves by attending the Games.
