This morning pupils from all over Scotland had the chance to put their own questions to Olympian and 400m runner Lee McConnell live on the Glow network.
Muirhouse Primary School, Motherwell, set the pace for schools gearing up for next year’s Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week by hosting a special online ‘Glowing Thursday’ with Team GB 400m runner Lee McConnell using the Scottish schools’ intranet, Glow. Schools from local authorities across Scotland logged in to learn more about Lee’s experiences of competing at an Olympic Games and her aspirations for London 2012. Schools also learned how they can get involved in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games by staging their own Games during Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week, delivered in partnership with sportscotland through the Active Schools Network, from 11-15 June 2012.
sportscotland Chief Executive, Stewart Harris said: “At sportscotland we want people to make sport a part of their lives and through National School Sport Week, we provide young people with additional ways of getting involved in sport, building on the activities already offered through our Active Schools Network. Active Schools aims to offer all young people the opportunities and motivation to get involved in sport”.
The seminar was arranged through Education Scotland’s Glow intranet to allow multiple schools to learn more about the Olympic and Paralympic Games from one of Scotland’s most prolific track athletes. Pupils were also shown a number of ways in which they can stage their own games - from opening and closing ceremonies, inter-school events and celebrations around the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay as it travels through Scotland from 8-13 June 2012.
National School Sport Week 2012 is set to be the biggest and best yet. Schools can also join in the celebrations as Flame Followers with schools that register by 18 November having the opportunity to win a visit from a celebration vehicle during the Olympic Torch Relay, adopt a Torchbearer to visit their school with the Olympic Torch, and even win Olympic Torch Relay Torchbearer places. Following Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week schools will also have the chance to take part in London 2012 World Sport Day on Monday 25th June 2012, which marks the rest of the world’s arrival in the UK ahead of the London 2012 Games, part of the Get Set goes global programme.
Nearly half a million primary and secondary pupils from over 1,400 schools in Scotland participated in Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week in June 2011, making it the biggest school sport event in the country. In a recent research study conducted by Bank of Scotland*, when asked what they liked about taking part in National School Sport Week, two thirds of Scottish pupils surveyed said they were inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to try more sport and 78% said they ‘loved’ or ‘liked’ being part of a national celebration of sport.
Lee commented: “With the London 2012 Games just around the corner, it’s great to see the enthusiasm the pupils are showing for getting involved in Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week and organising their own Games events. I really enjoyed answering the questions from pupils from around the country - it was a really fun morning. Excitement about next year’s Games will only increase as we get closer and with National School Sport Week 2012 set to be the biggest yet, I hope even more schools will sign up to be part of this exciting national celebration.”
- Schools can register for Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week, 11 - 15 June 2012 at www.schoolsportweekscotland.org
- Registered schools will receive a free teacher planning and activity pack, full of ideas to help plan their week and ensure the whole school can get involved; including a ‘Flame Followers’ pack with ideas on how schools can celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay coming to their area in 2012.
- Schools that register by 18 November 2011 will be in with the chance to be part of the Olympic Torch Relay – visit www.schoolsportsweekscotland.org for more information