Using the Values to raise aspirations.
Why Get Set?
Bridgemary Community Sports College (Hampshire, South East) wanted to inspire all its students to achieve their ‘personal bests’ through its 2012 programme and to share good practice with other schools and colleges through Get Set. A significant legacy could be left which would help Bridgemary in its philosophy of ‘Fit for Life’.
Bridgemary was already using the Olympic and Paralympic Values as the basis of its own PRIDE values, and was committed to these as a means of encouraging students to raise their aspirations, develop self belief and change perceptions of what is possible.
The Journey So Far
Bridgemary set up a new house system with each house being named after an elite British athlete and students voting for the final choice of names. Student and staff house members all pledged their commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic Values with pledges displayed on boards in the main college courtyard.
House Challenge Weeks have been based on specific Values; students have been given opportunities to take part in inter-house competitions and in a wide range of activities across different subject areas. A house trophy has been awarded at the end of each challenge week.
Around the college are displays showing maps of events and facilities, a weekly countdown to the start of London 2012, and information on ‘local heroes’ who are 2012 hopefuls.
Olympic sports such as BMX and handball have been introduced into the curriculum. Even the college canteen has been revamped and is now an Olympic Café with sporting symbols, Olympic rings and a video wall!
Positive Values
The Olympic and Paralympic Values have been embedded across the whole curriculum and made an integral part of college life. Bridgemary feels this has brought the college closer together, and has helped support academic standards and behaviour.
Bridgemary won a Get Set Network recognition award at the Sports College Conference for its outstanding work in using the Olympic and Paralympic Values to drive whole school engagement.
And the highlights for students?
- “The fact that it is in our own country and we get a chance to experience the atmosphere”
- “The determination of the athletes and how we can use this and aspire to achieve the best we can in our lives”
- “Inspires us to participate in as many opportunities as we can”
- “We get a chance to see some athletes who we have worked with and supported compete.”
Towards 2012
Bridgemary will continue offering a range of opportunities to students through House Challenge Weeks and students will take the lead in inspiring primary school children through Values-based activities. The college wants to access as many Olympic and Paralympic Games initiatives and programmes as possible to sustain momentum leading up to London 2012.
An ultimate measure of success would be for students to have a real sense of passion about the Games and to realise that the Olympic and Paralympic Values are what they can aspire to achieve in their own lives as they move through school and beyond.
