Newcastle School Games Level 2 U16 Boys Table Tennis

Benfield School hosted the 2nd School Games Table Tennis event yesterday afternoon and the standard of play was impressive to say the least; this time it was the turn of the U16 Boys to step up to the plate and compete for the coveted Newcastle School Games Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates.  The following schools attended with their squads of 4:

St Mary's Catholic Comprehensive (2), St Cuthbert's, Newcastle School for Boys and Excelsior

The numbers of teams involved allowed the School Games Team to arrange everyone to play everyone once in a round robin, probably the fairest way to identify the true winners of any event of this type. 

The event was staged across 6 competition tables and it was clear from the outset that all 5 teams were intent on striving to be Newcastle's representatives at the Level 3 event next month as the standard was incredible straight away.

One of the things that's impressed organisers recently has been the levels of maturity, behaviour and sportsmanship displayed by all participants.  The event yesterday was simply a pleasure to involved in as it showcased young people focused on being the best they can be, competing with a smile on their face and respecting each other throughout.

After a whole host of hotly contested matches with some incredible individual battles, mainly thanks to each school having strong players in positions 1 / 2, it was the depth of the squad that proved to be crucial, with the final standings looking like this:

GOLD - Newcastle School for Boys

SILVER - St Cuthbert's

BRONZE - St Mary's

Huge congratulations and thanks must go to absolutely everyone who attended, both participants and school staff alike; and a special mention for Newcastle School for Boys who go forward to the Level 3 as Newcastles representatives.  A clean sweep for the school in Table Tennis terms as they also won the U13 round last week.

Newcastle School Games L2 Key Stage 3 Boys Badminton

It may be a surprise to some that despite the appalling weather and anticipated travel issues the Newcastle School Games Level 2 Key Stage 3 Boys Badminton competition still went ahead successfully yesterday afternoon at Walbottle Campus.

The following schools from across the city ignored the elements and boarded their buses to make the journey:

Kenton, Gosforth Central Middle, St Cuthbert's, Gosforth Junior Academy, Gosforth Academy, Benfield, Heaton Manor and St Mary's.

The Key Stage 3 Badminton has been well attended in recent years and yesterday's event was no different with 13 teams participating and the standard was really high.

As a result of the fantastic sign up and turn out 3 groups were set up and every team played everyone in their group once.  Staff and participants alike threw themselves into the busy schedule and simply got on with getting down to business.

One thing that's stood out to the School Games team this year has been the atmosphere at every event to date; the Sportshall events were really loud and electric and the Table Tennis last week and the Badminton yesterday had a more relaxed whilst competitive feel about them.  Participants were certainly focused and dedicated to performing to the best of their ability and more importantly displayed some great values such as sportsmanship and respect.

Following the group stages winners and runners up progressed to the next round; group winners went on to play each other once and ultimately decide who took home the Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates whilst runners up did exactly the same to decide final placings after the podium finishers.

The final games were hotly contested and participants continued to perform and conduct themselves brilliantly; and the final standings were

GOLD - Benfield

SILVER - Gosforth Central Middle A

BRONZE - St Cuthbert's A

4th - Gosforth Junior Academy A

5th - Gosforth Central Middle B

6th - Heaton Manor

Congratulations to absolutely everyone who took part yesterday, with a special mention for Benfield and Gosforth Central Middle School who are invited to represent Newcastle at the Level 3 School Games event early next year.

Finally huge thanks to Walbottle Campus for hosting the event and all those teams who braved the anticipated traffic issues and weather to attend the competition, which was appreciated very much by the School Games Organising Team. 

National School Sport Week 2013

Inspiring more young people to do more sport

24th - 28th June 2013

Since 2009, nearly 9 million pupils and 84% of schools in Britain have taken part in Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week. In 2012 the Olympic and Paralympic Games came to the UK and we had an amazing time! Schools took part, inspiring young people through the Torch Relay, staging their own Games during National School Sport Week and welcoming the world’s athletes and cultures on London 2012 World Sport Day.

Now the Games are over, we want to continue the enthusiasm that young people have for sport and start planning for the next National School Sport Week, taking place from 24-28 June, 2013.

This is your opportunity to keep the momentum going in your school and engage the wider community to enjoy sport and activity. We’ll be taking the most inspirational ideas and strategies and showing you how to make them work in your school, engaging all your pupils in a week-long celebration of school sport

Whatever your school, whatever your resources, there’s something fun and positive you can do as part of Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week.

• Inter/Intra School Participation
• Links with Sports Clubs
• Multi Sport Events
• Holding an Opening Ceremony

Keep the momentum of London 2012 going by signing up to National School Sport Week 2013. The first 5,000 schools to register receive a free support poster featuring Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger.

Register today at www.schoolsportweek.org  and you’ll have plenty of time to plan your week, involve your pupils as young leaders and volunteers, engage your local community and use the week to build upon your whole school priorities.

Contact your Newcastle School Games team for support in planning your National School Sport week by contacting Helen Taylor on 265 6091 ext 317 or helen.taylor@benfield.newcastle.sch.uk

Newcastle School Games U13 Boys Table Tennis

Yesterday afternoon, Thursday 22nd November, saw Benfield School host the School Games Level 2 U13's Boys Table Tennis competition here in Newcastle.  Excelsior Academy, Kenton, St Cuthbert's and Newcastle School for Boys all entered teams in an attempt to take home the spoils.

Every team was asked to rank their team members from 1-4 and then the format and fixtures were supplied by the School Games Team; the matches themselves were officiated by the players themselves and they managed this task brilliantly with no disputes taking place; indeed the atmosphere was great with hand shakes, effort and encouragement all being displayed.

As the competition progressed more and more quality Table Tennis was being played, with some games going down to the wire; and where the result ended in a draw, suddenly points scored became important.

Steve Beharall, Lead School Games Organiser, said "we're really pleased with this event, numbers are up and it's fantastic to see some new individual faces and indeed new schools to this years School Games programme.  The standard of play has been great and the participants and school staff have all thrown themselves into proceedings".

The final was eventually played out by Excelsior Academy and Newcastle School for Boys and the podium finishing positions were:

GOLD  -  Newcastle School for Boys

SILVER  -  Excelsior Academy

BRONZE  -  St Cuthbert's

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the event and especially to Newcastle School for Boys who progress to the Level 3 School Games event on the 14th December.





Year 5/6 Girls Football Festival

Today saw Walkergate Primary School take on St Charles RC Primary in a friendly but competitive game of football at All Saints College. The festival is a new School Games initiative for 2012-13 and is aimed at girls school teams who are new to competitive football and not for those girls who already enjoying plenty of regular girls football for a community club.

Each of the festivals has been held outside on 3G pitches and we have been lucky with the weather (although the girls have never complained) with Walbottle Campus hosting the last festival in October. Special mention goes out to Walkergate Primary who have attended both festivals to date.

The festivals are supported by Northumberland FA with Nicola Hepworth, Girls Football Development Officer commenting " this is an excellent staring point for girls keen on testing themselves against other girls of a similar standard. We will work with any of these girls who would like to try and find a community club to play further".

The programme is delivered by the Hatrick Programme, Emma Brown said "We currently run competitive girls football leagues in the East and West of Newcastle and this is the opportunity to fill the gap in competition and give schools a different route for girls football.

Steve Beharall, Lead School Games Organiser commented "We plan to organise the next couple of festivals indoor in March and April with the final festivals outdoors in May and June".

Yr 7 & 8 Aviva Sportshall Athletics

This unique indoor competition is being delivered across Tyne and Wear by School Games Organisers (SGO’s) with the support of sports leaders and teachers with schools in Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland hoping to qualify for the Level 3 County Final on 16^th January at Temple Park Sports Centre in South Tyneside.

Yesterday (15th November, 2012) saw schools take part in the Newcastle School Games Level 2 Sportshall Athletics for year 7 & 8 at 'Centre for Sport' in the inner west of Newcastle.  Over 40 teams competed in what was one of the most exciting competitions we have run so far this academic year. The standard of competition was extremely high and each of the competitors demonstrated the ‘spirit of the games’ values we continually promote which are Respect, Teamwork, Passion, Determination, Self Belief and Honesty.

Gosforth Central Middle School managed to secure Gold medal finishes in each competition with Sacred Heart, St Cuthbert’s and Walbottle Campus finishing in Silver positions. Bronze medal finishes were achieved by Kenton with B teams form Gosforth Central Middle and Sacred Heart.

Our colleagues in PE Departments across the city had the following to say:-

James Barrett, Walbottle Campus said “The overall event has been a fun and enjoyable event. Well organsied and good quick turnarounds”.

David Parker, Benfield School said “Excellent event which was very well organised and ran very efficiently. All pupils seemed to be engaged and enjoying the activities and competitions”.

Paul Lumsden, Gosforth Junior Academy said “Great event and well organised. All pupils thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks”.

Chris Bland, All Saints College said “Well organised, fun for students. Variety of activities allows lots of students to get involved”.

John Bone, St Mary’s Catholic School said “Excellent event, great organisation and opportunity for all students to get involved. They have had a great time, thank you”.

Lisa Burdis, Sacred Heart High School said “Excellent event, well organised as always our girls had a great time, thanks”.

Chris Lee, Kenton School said “Fantastically well organised – as usual! Pupils had a fab time, thank you”.

Ian Beck, St Cuthbert’s said “Pupils thoroughly enjoyed it and well organised, thank you”

Newcastle School Games Yr 5/6 Sportshall Athletics - Thursday 8th November 2012

Newcastle School Games Yr 5/6 Sportshall Athletics

Thursday 8th October saw the Newcastle School Games 2nd Sportshall Primary Athletics event held at Centre for Sport in Newcastle.  Year 5 and 6 pupils took part in the following events:

·         Vertical jump

·         Long jump

·         Triple jump

·         Speed bounce

·         Balance test

·         Turbo javelin

·         Chest throw

·         Target throw

·         1 lap sprint

·         1 lap hurdles

·         2 lap sprint

·         4 lap run

Every school taking part was offered Level 1 support prior to the competition with a number of schools receiving an intra school competition for whole class activity to prepare and familiarise them with the format and rules. Some schools used the support it as an opportunity to let the pupils 'try out' to represent the school at the competition.

The competition saw 168 pupils take part.  School's in attendance were:

• St Cuthbert's (Kenton)
• Wingove Primary
• St Oswald's RC Primary
• St George's RC Primary
• Lemington Riverside Primary
• Hotspur Primary
• Cragside Primary
• Westerhope Primary
• Ravenswood Primary
• Gosforth Junior Academy
• Gosforth Central Middle School

In Gold place was Gosforth Central Middle, Cragside took Silver and Ravenswood were Bronze. 

Along with St Charles' who took Gold in the previous Sportshall Athletics event, Gosforth Central Middle qualify for the Level 3 Sportshall Athletics Final next term.  These two school's represent Newcastle and compete against the winning schools from Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

John Rutter, PE Co-ordinator from Wingrove Primary, commented, "Fantastic event, nice to see all the children with smiles on their faces, great sportsmanship shown by all!"

Newcastle School Games Leadership Academy

Leadership Academy Launch

The Newcastle School Games Leadership Academy was launched this afternoon (7th November 2012) at Benfield School represented by schools from across Newcastle’s public and private sectors.

Schools were asked to nominate pupils from years 9 - 12 to gain a place in the Leadership Academy and a selection process saw 29 selected to make up the Academy.

This afternoon’s workshop session covered the induction process with the leaders contributing their thoughts to a code of conduct form as well as their aspirations and goals. Each Leader has completed a skills diagram to help them understand their strengths and areas for development throughout the programme.

Each Leader will receive mentoring throughout the year at Level 1, 2 and 3 School Games competitions as well as being invited to support community programmes through partners like Newcastle Leisure Serives and Active Newcastle.

Ian Kendall, School Games Organisers said "This is the start of a year long process to help develop the leader’s skills through workshops, training, festivals and competitions. The Leadership Academy will help to provide support to our School Games competitions and festivals".

Jill Stacey, Leadership Coordinator for Benfield School said "The mentoring process on offer for the leaders through the Academy will help to develop the Leaders areas of strength. I am really looking forward to working with the future generation of coaches, officials, teachers and development officers"