The School Games Mark is a government led awards scheme launched in 2012 to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community. Participating in this process allows schools to evaluate their PE provision and assists them in developing an action plan for future progress.

Each School Games Mark application is divided into four sets of questions. They cover the following basic topics...

• Participation - how many young people at your school are being engaged in sporting activity?
• Competition - how many different sports are being played and how many competitions are being entered?
• Workforce - how many pupils are involved in leadership activities alongside taking part in competitions?
• Clubs - how many local links does your school have with clubs or establishments from the area?

SPIRIT OF THE GAMES: SCHOOL GAMES VALUES

The six School Games values - Passion, Self-Belief, Respect, Honesty, Determination and Teamwork - were developed by young people to recognise how the experience of sport should be epitomised and embodied within schools, and to reflect the 'spirit' of the School Games.

We encourage all participants, leaders, team managers and spectators to adopt and demonstrate the 'Spirit of the Games' at all our events, and have linked the values closely with our school and Christian values. All of our competitions and festivals have adopted one particular ‘focus’ value, where individuals are rewarded for their exceptional demonstration of that value during the event.

To help you understand the different spirits, here are a few ideas of what may count as good reasons to nominate somebody for one of these awards.

Respect

• Accepted decisions made by officials
• Congratulated opposition even in defeat
• Accepted victory and defeat with grace
• Has respect not only in sport, but for everyone

Honesty

• Played within the rules of the game
• Be honest with yourself and others
• Does the right thing in a difficult situation
• Does not cheat

Determination

• Never gave up
• Achieved their outcomes
• Kept on competing even when in difficult times
• The very best they can be
• Didn’t hold back

Teamwork

• Treating everyone equally
• Supported team mates
• Worked together and encouraged
• Positive player
• Celebrated in other’s success

Passion

• Encouraged others
• Never gave up
• Gives 100% all the time
• Helped teacher with equipment setting up/packing away

Self Belief

• Believed they could achieve
• Confident
• Achieves personal best