On Wednesday 19th July, we held our first Sports Presentation Awards since 2019, recognising our fantastic students who have represented the school in sports across the academic year. We recognised students from a plethora of sports, including football, netball, rugby, hockey, rounders, flatbat, panathalon, dance and athletics, with our 300 students in attendance.
The highlight of the event was our guest of honour, former Bolton and Everton (amongst others!) manager, Sam Allardyce, who spoke about his career, presented awards and hosted a question and answer session with students, as well as posing for endless photos and selfies. Allardyce shared lots of important messages through his experiences and the value of sport, including the mental and physical well-being benefits and how this links to improved academic performance, and how it teaches resilience, an all-important life skill through his stories about being sacked as a manager but using the experience to come back stronger. He shared stories about how he moved away from the Midlands to Bolton at the age of 15 and the dedication and commitment that required, and how that enabled him to become successful, and shared with students how they can apply this to all aspects of their lives. Allardyce summarised his speech by saying: “You have an opportunity now to take yourself to where you want to go. Don’t let anyone stop you – it is all down to you and your determination and dedication, no one else.”
Students were invited for their representation of school either through performing and playing or through coaching and completing the Sports Leaders qualification. Awards were handed out for Players of the Year, Athletes of the Month and Team of the Year, the most prestigious award, which was handed to the Year 8/9 Girls Athletics Team following their phenomenal success at the Bury Schools’ Athletics Competition this summer.
Mr Watson, headteacher, said: ‘This has been a fantastic event to recognise the time, effort and commitment of our students. We are privileged to have so many students who are willing to give up their time to represent the school. Whilst the event was for our students, none of this happens without the fantastic dedication and commitment of our team of staff both inside and outside of PE, for which we are very grateful. In all, this was a fantastic event, with all students very deserving of their invitations, and we look forward to seeing what successes next year holds.’
Sports Presentation July 2023
