MP presents awards at Slindon College’s sports day

Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert visited Slindon College to watch the School’s sports day events and hand out medals on Friday (28 June).

Slindon College is one of thousands of schools across the UK which took part in sports day events during National School Sport Week 2019 (24 to 28 June). 

Mr Herbert joined Headmaster Mark Birkbeck and Chairman of Governors David Slee to watch the students participate in games and sports which included pétanque, football and running races. 

Slindon College is set in a magnificent location on the National Trust’s Slindon Estate.  It is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 8 to 18 providing specialist teaching for those with additional educational needs.  Sport is just one of the many ways the students’ education is enriched through a broad curriculum and after-school activities. 

The theme for this year’s National Sport Week was ‘Journey to Wellbeing’, recognising the positive impact that PE and school sport has on the wellbeing of young people.   

The Government is due to publish its proposals in a new “school sport action plan” which aims to increase opportunities for children to play more sports.  The plan has been made with the input of several major sporting organisations, including the Premier League, the Football Association, England Netball and the Rugby Football Union.   

The Department for Education has confirmed it will make £320 million available to primary schools in England to improve the quality of PE and sport in the 2019/20 academic year. 

Mark Birkbeck, Headmaster of Slindon College, said: “Sport is very important to our students, and this summer term sees our traditional recognition of their outstanding achievements within a variety of sporting events.  We are very grateful to our special guest, Nick Herbert, for visiting and awarding the coveted medals.” 

Mr Herbert said: “It was a pleasure to join the school for their annual sports day and an honour to present medals to the pupils who were outstanding in their field.  It was a fun afternoon and one which the children clearly enjoyed. 

“Sport is an important part of the national curriculum and promotes good health – both physically and mentally – which is so important in young children.”

ENDS 

Notes  

1.    Photograph 1 – Nick Herbert with Mark Birkbeck and Mr Pinney, Slindon College’s PE teacher of 43 years, and the medal winners.

2.    To read more about Slindon College see www.slindoncollege.co.uk. 

3.    To read more about Youth Sport Trust see www.youthsportstrust.org.