This year’s School Sport Conference, delivered by the Youth Sports Trust and supported by Sport England, was held at Kettering Conference Centre on Tuesday 16th October 2012. England Squash & Racketball were once again part of the main exhibition and showcased their opportunities for schools and young people.
The conference titled Inspiring the Next Generation, reflected on the fantastic summer of sport that captivated the nation and focused on how school sport needs to evolve to keep young people interested and engaged.
County Sport Partnerships and National Governing Bodies of Sport were among the invited guests and School Games Organisers attended and took part in a compulsory and bespoke programme.
The programme included guest appearances from London 2012 heroes who reflected on their sporting achievements this year – Rowing Gold medallist Alex Gregory, GB hockey Bronze medallist Alex Danson and Paralympic Archery Silver medallist Mel Clarke.
The closing address was given by Rt Hon Maria Miller MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equalities.
The presentation of the School Sport Awards concluded the conference with six awards up for grabs to reward the most innovative and best practice in school sport, across a range of different categories. Everything from recognition for efforts to drive sporting competition and creating competitive opportunities for young disabled people, to organising successful School Games competitions for young people.
The winners were:
Sainsbury’s School Games – Outstanding Engagement in competition – Sport England
Winner: Nottinghamshire Local Organising Committee
For their excellent partnership working to plan and stage a hugely successful School Games Festival for hundreds of young people across a wide variety of different sports.
High quality Change4Life sports clubs – Department for Health
Winner: Harrow Schools Improvement Partnership
For their excellent work and successful running of a number of Change4Life Sports Clubs.
Outstanding intra-school competition – PGL
Winner: The Regis School
Recognised for their commitment to drive competition within the school and efforts to make all competition fully inclusive.
Outstanding inter school competition – Life Fitness
Outstanding Primary School Sport – School Trends
Winner: Wilmslow High School
Recognised for their commitment to ensure all young people have the opportunity to take part in regular competition, across different sports with other schools and the huge amount of support they have provided to primary schools in the area.
Outstanding disability competition programme – Davies Sports
Winner:Mowbray School
Recognised for their work on creating competitive opportunities for young disabled people, through regular competitions in school and with other schools in the area.