Newcastle Schools Sport Partnership

News

Rewards through Sports

03/02/2010

Rewarding excellent behaviour and effort with exciting sporting activities is the latest initiative being offered by Newcastle School Sport Partnership at Gosforth East Middle School.
Thirty two pupils – one boy and one girl from each form were chosen in January by their tutor and rewarded with an afternoon of climbing at the premier indoor climbing venue for Tyneside and the North East, situated in the former church of St Mark’s in Byker. Students worked with an experienced instructor on a 1:6 ratio and tried three different climbs on the central and bouldering zone.
“I didn’t think I could do it, but I got to the top!” Matthew Beattie, 6PW commented, with Lucy Topping, 6ND agreeing “It was an amazing experience.”
“Rewards through Sport” has provided a unique experience for these lucky pupils. “They pupils were really excited when they returned to school and are keen to do more!” said Mr D. Jones, Deputy Headteacher, at Gosforth East Middle School, who accompanied the students
Karin Smurthwaite, the School Sport Co-ordinator based at GEMS who organised the trip said “Sport is an excellent tool to reward pupils’ achievement and effort. At NSSP we hope to offer all young people in Newcastle schools the opportunity to participate in a wide range of physical activities. This has been a fantastic success which has given a lot of the pupils a great boost to their self confidence.”
Newcastle Climbing Centre offers children aged 7 years and upwards the opportunity to take part in the “National Indoor Climbing Achievement Scheme” (NICAS) which promotes climbing development and accredited individual achievement on certified climbing structures. This would be the ideal route for any student who is interested in doing more climbing.