Sainsbury's School Games
Prestigious Platinum Award Achieved for the Seventh Consecutive Year!
We are delighted to announce that Dean Valley Primary School has achieved the School Games Platinum Mark Award for the 2025/26 academic year, marking an incredible seventh consecutive year of receiving the highest level of recognition for school sport and physical activity.
The School Games Mark is a Government-led award scheme, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust, which celebrates schools that demonstrate a sustained commitment to providing high-quality sporting opportunities and promoting positive attitudes towards physical activity. We are immensely proud that our continued dedication has once again been recognised through this prestigious award.
Our success reflects our whole-school commitment to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to lead active, healthy lifestyles. Through our pledge to the 60 Active Minutes initiative, we have transformed playtimes and lunchtimes into vibrant opportunities for physical activity, providing children with a wide range of engaging games, sports and active experiences each day.
Our outdoor provision continues to play a significant role in promoting active learning, with our specially designed orienteering course enabling pupils to deepen their understanding of both core and foundation subjects through physical activity. This innovative approach helps children develop their academic knowledge whilst remaining physically active and engaged in their learning.
As proud members of our local School Games Partnership, we provide pupils with access to a wide range of festivals, tournaments and competitions throughout the year. These opportunities ensure that children of all abilities can experience competitive sport, develop new skills and discover activities they may not otherwise have encountered. Through the partnership's Celebrate, Aspire and Inspire formats, pupils are encouraged to achieve their personal best, experience success and build confidence regardless of their starting point.
One area we are particularly proud of this year is the success of our Girls' Participation Initiative. We have seen a significant increase in girls taking part in activities such as football and squash, embracing new challenges, demonstrating resilience and pushing beyond their comfort zones. Their determination, courage and enthusiasm have inspired many others across the school community and serve as an excellent example of the positive impact sport can have on young people.
Our sporting achievements this year include:
- Achieving the School Games Platinum Mark Award for the seventh consecutive year.
- Maintaining our commitment to the 60 Active Minutes initiative.
- Providing an extensive programme of active playtimes and lunchtimes.
- Using our orienteering course to enhance learning across the curriculum.
- Participating in a wide range of School Games tournaments and festivals.
- Increasing opportunities for all pupils to access competitive sport.
- Expanding girls' participation in football, squash and other sporting activities.
- Delivering inclusive opportunities through the Celebrate, Aspire and Inspire competition pathways.
- Encouraging pupils to develop resilience, teamwork, leadership and a lifelong love of physical activity.
With hundreds of young people participating in inter-school competitions throughout the year, we are incredibly proud of our pupils for their commitment, enthusiasm and determination. Their willingness to challenge themselves, support others and represent the school with pride has been instrumental in achieving this award.
As part of our application, we were required to demonstrate excellence across the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs. This award is a testament to the collective efforts of our pupils, staff, governors and wider school community.
A special thank you must go to our wonderful parents and families. Your support has been invaluable throughout the year. Whether providing transport to events, volunteering your time, coaching teams or encouraging your children to participate and persevere, you play a vital role in our sporting success. You are true assets to our school community, and quite simply, this achievement would not have been possible without you.
Thank you also to our dedicated staff, coaches, volunteers and School Games Partnership colleagues who work tirelessly to create opportunities for our children to flourish both in sport and in life.
We are incredibly proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing our sporting journey as we strive to inspire even more children to be active, ambitious and successful moving into 2027. 🏆🥇
