Berwick Academy

Berwick Academy has been awarded the overall winner of the Youth Sports Trust Impact Award for 2022 / 2023.  This accolade was decided from over 18,700 schools in England who participate in The School Games.  The School Games, which is funded by Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, creates a series of sports formats that help guide the future of school sport competitions which, ultimately, make such a meaningful difference to the lives of young people.

The award was presented in relation to the pivotal role that Berwick Academy has taken in re-engaging girls into physical activity.  Working in partnership with both The School Games and Bowls Scotland, the school implemented a project which supported 30 students to acquire a Level 1 Bowls qualification, as well as providing them with key leadership skills which enabled them to become indoor bowls coaches.  These skills were put to use by the girls delivering inspiring bowls development sessions to six of Berwick’s local first schools - not only boosting their confidence but also their interest and engagement of PE.

Tracy Hush, Head Teacher, stated ‘This is an incredible achievement for the school and recognises at national level just how big the impact of Physical Education and Sport has on our students.  Our work on ensuring we continue to offer diversity within the PE curriculum, as well as listening to pupil’s voices, creates positive experiences that build on their character development as well as their skills.  Having been awarded the prestigious AfPE Quality Mark earlier in the year, as well as achieving Gold standard for the last two years from The School Games, the future of sport at Berwick Academy looks extremely bright’

Alongside these awards there have been other highlights including the Boys Year 11 Football team reaching the quarter finals of the Northumberland County Cup and 15 students making it through to the County Athletics Finals, with 2 of them featuring in the top three positions in Northumberland.

There is still more to come before the end of term with a group of pupils off to the Scottish Open Golf competition in North Berwick to gain a greater understanding of sports event management as well as the chance to learn more about a new activity.