Posted: 04/05/16
Students stage ‘mini Olympics’ for primary schools
Youngsters from Mansfield primary schools have been exerting their energies and getting into the Olympic spirit, thanks to students at West Nottinghamshire College.
Level 2 Activity Leadership students (back) with pupils from St Philip Neri with St Bede Catholic Voluntary Academy and teaching assistant Lisa Eardley (centre).
A multi-skills sports festival took place at the college’s state-of-the-art sports hall at its Derby Road campus last week (Wednesday 27 April), involving a day of specially-tailored activities.
It was organised by students on the Level 2 Activity Leadership course to improve school pupils’ co-ordination, balance and general agility – while also marking 100 days until the start of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Almost 50 pupils, aged between six and seven, from Forest Town and King Edward primary schools and St Philip Neri with St Bede Catholic Voluntary Academy took part in the ‘mini Olympics’.
A points system was organised for the children as they competed in standing long jump, football target, tennis taps, hurdles, indoor javelin and basketball activities.
Sport and coaching tutor Rachael Evans said: “The multi-skills sports festival was put together as part of our activity leadership course and saw students devising activities in the classroom and delivering them to school pupils in a confident and professional manner.
“It was great to see learners putting their communication skills into practice with a younger audience and working with children with varied sporting abilities.”
Lisa Eardley, teaching assistant at St Philip Neri with St Bede Catholic Voluntary Academy, said: “The event was absolutely fantastic. Our children really enjoyed meeting the students, getting involved in the sports and engaging with pupils from other schools.
“They all paid lots of attention to what the students were showing them – and were thrilled when they discovered our school had taken first place!”
