Palterton Primary School wins coveted Association for PE Quality Mark

The Bolsover District school has achieved the accolade for a period of three years after assessors visited in January – one of just 18 across England to do so.

Headteacher Ros Horsley says Palterton has made PE ‘central to the school’s ethos’, using it to support other areas of the curriculum.

Children have been encouraged to take part in extra-curricular clubs, a leadership programme and challenges such as the web-based Golden Mile, where they collect miles through completing activities at breakfast club, breaks and lunchtime, or when walking with family.

“I think what impressed was the things that we do over and above the curriculum and I can’t tell you how proud we are to be awarded the Quality Mark,” said Mrs Horsley.

“There is an infant school in Derby that has it, but we are the first primary school in Derbyshire to be recognised in this way.

“We use PE to help with other areas of the curriculum and while there is a sense of being competitive with an inter-schools competition, it’s not just about achieving. There is recognition for improving skills and contributing to our leadership work as well.

“I think it helps that the staff we have here like to keep active and are sports-orientated. If we can do anything that will make a positive change in the future, then we will continue to do it.”