A group of Year 9 girls from Woodham Academy had a brilliant time at a sports festival held for them and other girls from schools across the region, by Sedgefield School Sports Partnership. The festival was aimed at non-active girls who enjoy sport, but who aren’t currently accessing it outside of school.
This is in light of data which shows a lack of female participation rates in sport in the 14-19 age range in comparison to boys. Coupled with the scary statistics about childhood obesity, this was a fantastic way to educate the students, alongside developing their sporting experiences and social skills.
The girls had the chance to take part in a range of fun sporting activities such as Zumba, Dodgeball, Rounders and Beach Volleyball, before playing team activities where they got to plan their own sport club. The group were encouraged to think about their club ethos, the positive values and attitudes that they want to portray and how they would promote their club to their peers. After much deliberation and voting, the girls decided on a ‘Fitness and Multisport’ themed club and with the support of the SSP and the PE staff, this club will run for 6 weeks after school.
The aim of the club is to encourage as many young girls from Year 9 upwards to take part in a free sporting activity within school, which might motivate and inspire them to take part in the US Girls community club which currently runs every Monday night from 7-8.30pm at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre.
It is hoped that some of them will join Woodham Sports Academy, which currently has almost 300 members, with girls and boys equally represented.
