A legacy of active achievement.
Why Get Set?
Westminster Academy wanted students to recognise the benefits of London2012 in terms of empowering disadvantaged groups through employment opportunities and increasing social integration and co-operation. It recognised that by hosting the Games, London will achieve a significant sporting and cultural legacy. With the Academy specialising in international business and enterprise the Games was an ideal vehicle for implementing this vision.
An area outlined for development was improving levels of physical activity among students; with huge steps already being taken, a focus on the Games and Values could promote this further.
The Journey So Far
Active Passports for students have been implemented with opportunities to discuss weekly lifestyle choices in a 1:1 environment and individual learning plans adopted. Westminster Academy is currently undertaking the commitment to achieve the National Healthy Schools Status.
Students had the unique chance of meeting inspirational Olympic athlete Montell Douglas who led a master class helping them prepare for the Westminster Athletics Championships where the boys achieved 2nd place, their highest ever finish.
A huge number of sporting opportunities are offered within the Academy’s sport facility; students participate in an array of sports during school and after school, including more unusual sports such as rowing and archery. An ambitious Get Set sports day is now hosted each year, with all students having opportunities to take in part numerous Olympic sports. Through a Young Ambassadors programme 6th form students promote sports to younger students.Units of work in curriculum areas ranging from PE to physics are being themed around London 2012. Enterprise activities are being delivered as part of the Academy specialism and Westminster is an official International School through opportunities offered by the British Council.
Positive Values
The Olympic and Paralympic Values and those of the Academy have complemented each other well. Students have achieved year on year improvements in examination attainment and Westminster has recently achieved the accolade of being one of the most improved schools in the country.
Physical activity of students has risen by 47% since the introduction of the passports and the Academy is extremely proud to have been shortlisted for the TES Outstanding Provision for Sport category for 2011.
And the highlights for students?
Students are particularly excited by the opportunity to attend a number of events that are taking place in their own borough and some even met the Mayor of London and Lord Coe at the Get Set Press Launch! With both Lords and Hyde Park within walking distance the momentum which is being built through the test events is beginning to lead points of discussion for students, particular regarding the possibility of getting tickets to see events.
Towards 2012
Through involvement in the Get Set programme, Westminster Academy will continue contributing to the atmosphere that is building as the start of the Games approaches. Students will be given access to a range of activities both within the Academy and in conjunction with those proposed by the Westminster School Sport Partnership.
As a legacy of the Games Westminster Academy wants to keep offering opportunities for participation and performance, inspiring students by following the achievements of athletes both in their own community and through the media.
Prior to the games in 2012, students will have taken part in two Get Set Sports days, two National School Sport Weeks and a variety of additional Olympic Games and sporting based events throughout the year.
