Find out how Catshill Middle School celebrates lasting friendship to change lives and inspire through sport
Why Get Set?
In such an exciting era in British sport, Catshill Middle School (Worcestershire, West Midlands) wanted students to:
- understand more about the Olympic and Paralympic Games;
- gain a sense of ownership of the Games;
- share ideas and develop a new network of friends; and
- work with pupils from different backgrounds.
Get Set was an opportunity to build on existing links with Chadsgrove Special School, a local physical disability school and fellow member of North Worcestershire School Sports Partnership. Excellent work of teachers and students could be celebrated and extended, with community cohesion as a focus.
Catshill was beginning to develop as a hub of the local community, hosting a range of clubs and family learning events. The partnership with Chadsgrove meant pupils from both schools could learn and celebrate achievement together. A nurture group from Catshill had worked on activities alongside Chadsgrove pupils, leading to students mentoring and supporting work at Chadsgrove.
The journey so far
Catshill and Chadsgrove’s big event has been their ’1000 days to go celebration’ marking the time left until the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The day included a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be joined by double bronze medal-winning Paralympian, Richard White.
Students experienced the excitement of:
- trying out the Paralympic sports of Boccia and Curling;
- experiencing a Wheelchair Basketball game; and
- meeting a ‘real life’ Paralympian.
Working around the understanding of issues of disability has been central to partnership activities. Beyond the day itself, students have continued to develop their knowledge of disability issues, putting this into practice through working and helping each other in PE lessons.
Positive Values
Catshill emphasises the community cohesion aspect of its Get Set involvement:
‘The event was a great chance to celebrate the friendship that exists between our two schools and enabled pupils to work collaboratively together in a range of activities.’
Leaders from both schools have strengthened their working partnership, building a ‘lasting, ongoing friendship’ while ‘developing a greater understanding in our community’. Students have been able to increase their awareness of the significance of London 2012, explore issues of disability and be inspired by taking part in the sports.
The highlights for students?
- ‘Meeting a Paralympic athlete.’
- ‘Holding the Paralympic medals.’
- ‘Joining together with other pupils.’
- ‘Seeing pupils working together and having fun.’
- ‘Trying Paralympic sports and realising how hard they were to play!’
Towards 2012
Catshill feels proud to have built such a strong friendship between the schools and looks forward to continuing this.
By 2012 students will be experiencing sports featured at the Games, and exploring what it means to be living in the UK during such an exciting and inspiring time.
‘Our ultimate aim would be to give all students a sense of belonging in hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games and to feel pride for their country and understanding of other cultures and nationalities.’
