COOMBESHEAD Academy in Newton Abbot, part of Education South West, has achieved the School Games Silver Mark Award for the 2023/24 academic year.

The School Games Mark is a Government-led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community.

The Youth Sport Trust equips educators and empowers young people with the vision of creating a future where every child enjoys the life-changing benefits of play and sport. The criteria of the School Games Mark align directly with the School Games outcomes.

As part of the award application, the school were asked to fulfill criteria in the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs, and they are delighted that the hard work of everyone at Coombeshead has been rewarded this year.

Schools must demonstrate how they support the personal development of targeted young people through youth engagement and leadership and how they deliver and engage in competitions that have clear intent and create positive experiences based on the motivation, competence and confidence of young people who need support.

Four Coombeshead students
Four Coombeshead students (Contributed)

Coombeshead Academy’s Headteacher Helen Coulson was delighted with the award, saying the following.

“With a total of over 300 young people competing in local inter-school competitions this year, we are extremely proud of our pupils for their dedication to all aspects of school sport, including those young volunteers, leaders and officials who made our competitions possible. It’s amazing to have this work recognised by receiving a Schools Games Silver Mark Award.”

Matthew Shanks, the CEO of Education South West, echoed these sentiments.

“Many congratulations to everyone at Coombeshead on this fantastic achievement. It’s great that the wide range of sporting activities they provide young people have been honoured in this way.”

Coombeshead were rated Good by Ofsted last year with inspectors noting that leaders plan a broad range of extracurricular activities, experiences and trips, over 20 clubs run each week, including learning Latin, plant care, a community orchestra and various sports.

Also, on Education South West, it is a trust consisting of nine primary schools, four secondary schools, one all-through school and a University Technical College, all of which based in Devon.

Pictured are just some of the students at Coombeshead who have benefited from all of this work.