Pupils at Gorsey Bank Primary School in Wilmslow are aiming for a healthy – and sporty – 2021.
They may be back to learning from home in lockdown but they are looking forward taking up some new sports when school fully returns.
Pupils spent the run-up to the Christmas holidays debating healthy lifestyles in their ‘Pupil Parliament’, an initiative to teach pupils about democracy, debate and how Parliament works in the UK.
Children across the school had their say on a range of motions which were narrowed down to a shortlist of three by the ‘Department for Sport’.
The final three were then discussed in the ‘Gorsey Commons’ with the group selecting to carry a motion to introduce a broader range of sporting activities.
Head of School Joe Maguire agreed and now sports such as handball and fencing could be offered to pupils when they return to school.
Committed to preparing its pupils to embrace the opportunities and challenges of the outside world, Mr Maguire believes that the work of the school’s Pupil Parliament plays a vital part in Gorsey Bank having been recognised as a UNICEF Rights Respecting School. In a recent report, UNICEF described the school’s ‘innovative’ Pupil Parliament as one of the ways in which ‘the voice of the child is clearly valued and respected’.
During the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, it was noted that: “Pupils develop positive attitudes that enable them to make an effective contribution to school life.
Pupils are proud of their school, especially the way in which they celebrate diversity.” National Parliament Week has become a much anticipated event in the school’s calendar and this year was no exception with pupils exploring responsible and effective ways to make their voices heard, drawing inspiration from popular figures such as Greta Thunberg and Marcus Rashford.
Children were also able to question their local MP, Esther McVey, in a video conferencing session. Earlier in the year, before the first lockdown, pupils were able to visit Westminster, and enjoyed guided tours of both the House of Commons and The House of Lords and a meeting with Tatton MP Ms McVey.