Promoting global collaboration
Why Get Set?
Established as a Sports College for the past eleven years, St. Mary’s (Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber) was already committed to using sport to educate young people and saw London 2012 as a fantastic means of inspiring all students, particularly through global links. Joining the Get Set network meant the opportunity to further engage students, parents and staff in a greater range of learning opportunities.
The Journey So Far
St. Mary’s is involved in a unique and exciting collaboration with Mnyakanya School in South Africa. This partnership has gained international acclaim for the way it has used sports and particularly London 2012, to promote education, health, leadership and global learning. Sports Leaders from St. Mary’s are visiting Mnyakanya School to mentor students and an Olympic Festival will be delivered to South African primary school children by students from the two schools.
Both schools are also embarking on a ‘Spirit of the Olympics/Power of Sport’ creative writing and art competition, with the best work to be published just before the start of the Games.
Olympic styled sports festivals and sports days are well established at St. Mary’s and awards assemblies have also been used to promote Olympic ideas and Values. A whole school ‘Olympic Challenge’ means all subject areas using London 2012 as a catalyst for learning and inspiration throughout the year.
Positive Values
The Olympic and Paralympic Values reflect those of the school and London 2012 is being used to support St. Mary’s values while providing a central focus for teaching and learning. The ‘Olympic Challenge’ is written into the School’s Development Plan.
A recent ‘student voice’ exercise showed students articulating very clearly the tremendous potential that sport has for good both with individuals and in society.
And the highlights for students?
- “I am really looking forward to all subject areas using the Olympics in our lessons. We have done it before for the FIFA World Cup which was great”
- “I am going to take part in the art competition. I have an initial idea about the ‘human race’ that I am working on”
- “It will be good to study the history of the Games in History and having a go at some Olympic events in PE”
- “I can’t wait to write about people that have inspired me in sport.”
Towards 2012
Of huge importance will be visiting Mnyakanya School and working with the students,
“Students who have gone to South Africa before have told me that the experience has changed the way they view the world. I am so looking forward to it and using sport in such a positive way for society”.
The Olympic Challenge is also set to continue and will culminate in an Olympic Week in July 2012 with Olympic Festivals and learning opportunities for the whole school.
St. Mary’s wants its students to use the inspiration of London 2012 to learn, to engage in sport and to use sport for the greater good. While giving students opportunities to learn about the Games it wants to place a strong emphasis on learning through the Games.
