Placing Olympic and Paralympic Values at the heart of school life.
Why Get Set?
Alfriston school (Buckinghamshire, South East) had already introduced the Values by displaying posters throughout school. A Sports Council had been established with representatives from each year group and a successful day event themed around the Olympic and Paralympic Games had been held.
Joining the Get Set network was a means of developing and sharing work and embedding the Values into every part of school life. Alfriston, a special school for girls with moderate learning difficulties, wanted to make sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Values central to school life.
The Journey So Far
Students experienced the excitement of meeting visiting athletes. Paralympic rower Naomi Riches talked about her training and gave a rowing demonstration while Olympian Roald Bradstock worked with pupils to produce an impressive sport-themed piece of art.
Rewards certificates are being introduced for students demonstrating specific Values with the school Sports Council discussing the possibility of awarding a special wristband to students demonstrating every single Olympic and Paralympic Value. Values-based certificates for attendance at lunch-time clubs have also been presented to students.
A further themed day is being planned to take place during National Schools Sports Week with activities from a variety of curriculum areas being linked to the Values. A media team is producing a video showing what the Values mean in school and each subject area is planning a Values-based module of follow up work.
Positive Values
Posters displayed around school meant that students and staff were more aware of how the Values linked to activities and to school life. More pupils have been engaged in lunch-time activities through the introduction of the attendance certificates.
A whole school reward and sanctions system based around the Olympic and Paralympic Values is being discussed.
And the highlights for students?
Students have been inspired by meeting athletes. Following Naomi Riches’ visit the school has bought two rowing machines and many students have started rowing. Students have attended a rowing competition with local mainstream schools at Dorney Lake the rowing Venue for London 2012. One Alfriston student and possible future Paralympian drew particular inspiration from the Games being in this country:
“I love the fact that it will be in London and it has inspired me at every training session for my swimming – just to think I might even be competing. My main goal is for Rio – but London is a closer step . . . who knows?”
Towards 2012
Alfriston aims to continue embedding the Values into the whole school ethos and to ‘live the Values’ before, during and after London 2012. A measure of success would be for all pupils and staff to understand how the Values link to the Games and to school life.
Alfriston wants students to meet more athletes, experience more Olympic and Paralympic sports in school, and know when and where different activities linked to the Games are happening. It plans to build in promotion of the cultural, logistical and tourism aspects of London 2012.
