YOUNGSTERS in West Auckland have ended the school year on a high after bagging a trio of top awards during the last term.
Copeland Road Primary School has received the Investing In Children Membership Award for the second year running. The school has been recognised for involving children and young people in issues that result in change.
Children at the school are given a say in how things are run and changes have been made based on their ideas.
Teacher Victoria Summerfield said: “We got the award because of the different ways we give the children a voice. They make a lot of decisions in school.”
During the last year, pupils have helped organise discos and members of the school council met representatives from the school lunch provider, Taylor Shaw, to make changes to the menu.
Meanwhile, pupils have also been recognised for their efforts to ensure everyone can play and learn in a safe and happy environment.
The school has received the Bullying Intervention Group (BIG) award for excellence in challenging bullying.
A team of 15 anti-bullying ambassadors from years four and five have been trained in mediation and friendship. They are on hand to offer advice and resolve issues between children on the playground. Staff have also received regular training.
Mrs Summerfield said: “The children have really enjoyed it.
“They have been sensible about it and taken it really seriously.”
BIG director Val McFarlane said: “Copeland Road Primary School’s anti-bullying policy is one of the best we have assessed. It is comprehensive and very up to date.
“They have anti-bullying ambassadors who are fully trained to spot any issues and deal with them before they become more serious.”
The school’s competitive side also shone through after it was awarded the School Games Gold Level Mark Award for the fourth year running. The School Games Mark is a government led scheme, supported by the Youth Sport Trust, to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community.
Sporting achievements at the school in the past year include receiving the Primary Sports Leaders Gold Award and the Primary School Contribution to Sports and Physical Activity Award.
Pupils have taken part in 25 level two competitions with 30 children progressing to level three competitions. The daily mile is now part of everyday school life to ensure every child is active.
PE co-ordinator Katherine Spanswick said: “With 60 per cent of our children competing in local inter-school competitions this year, we are extremely proud of our pupils for their dedication to all aspects of school sport including our young leaders who made our competitions possible.
“We are pleased that the hard work of everyone at our school has been rewarded this year.”
