Immersed in London 2012 and inspiring children
Why Get Set?
Joining the Get Set network meant recognition for activities already taking place and an extra incentive to continue building up to London 2012. Heath Primary School (Suffolk, East England) was aiming to widen the school’s involvement with the Games and achieve a long term effect on children’s outlook of others.
Plans were in place to share experiences with children in other schools via the Get Set blog, and to increase links both with Olympic and Paralympic athletes and children in other countries.
The Journey So Far
Children and adults including Olympic and Paralympic athletes have created tiles displaying personal challenges they aim to achieve by 2012; the end result a hugely impressive ‘Wall of Challenges’ made from 600 ceramic tiles in total! The grand opening event was in the form of a community day supported by local sports clubs and organisations and attended by Sir Keith Mills, Deputy Chairman of LOCOG.
Regular visits from athletes have featured strongly. For example, having successfully won the ‘Gold Medal Idea of the Fortnight’ on the Paralympic Handover site, Heath Primary was visited by fencer Richard Kruse.
A section of the school’s learning platform is dedicated to London 2012 and great use has been made of the Get Set blog as an inspiring record of what’s been happening both in school and nationally.
Medals are being awarded to those children who show Olympic and Paralympic Values in their everyday lives.
Positive Values
Excitement and inspiration has been generated by visits from athletes who have given the same message but in slightly different ways – find something that you’re good at and keep going, don’t give up! Awareness of disability has increased both through children meeting Paralympians and working with a local special school and disability sports clubs.
Children have experienced new sports through meeting athletes and attending the community day. Local sports clubs have already reported increased interest and new members as a result of the day.
A positive impact on the curriculum has been experienced through the huge scope for cross curricular opportunities.
And the highlights for students?
- ‘We have had many famous people signing tiles so that we can put them on our wall.’
- ‘Our tile wall is something to be proud of. We did this project in inspiration of the Olympics in London 2012. Everyone is pleased with the effort made and we hope that many other Olympians come to do their tile too!’
- ‘Whatever you look like or whatever your disability is, you can still fulfil your dreams.’
Towards 2012
Heath Primary wants to build on successes made in generating awareness of the opportunities offered by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, aiming for children to:
- Participate in a wider range of sports than ever before
- Watch athletes taking part in London 2012
- Achieve personal goals.
To be recognised locally and nationally as having played a part in both the build up to and the legacy of London 2012 continues to be seen as really important.
