COMMITMENT to competitive sport has been recognised at a Halesowen school which has become one of the first in the country to gain a new national award.

Windsor High School and Sixth Form are one of only 104 schools in the country to receive the special School Games Platinum Award – part of the School Games Mark – which is given to those which show a commitment to the development of competition across schools and into the community.

During the process to achieve the award schools have their PE provision assessed, grading them either bronze, silver or gold. The platinum award is the new fourth level of the award scheme, introduced earlier this year to celebrate schools who had shown consistently high-levels of enthusiasm and commitment to school sport.

Applications are only open to those schools who achieved five successive gold awards.

Stephen Lanckham, headteacher at Windsor High School, said: “We are delighted that we have received the platinum award as a result of many years of successful commitment to school sport and out of hours activities for our students.

“Having achieved some strong academic outcomes again in the summer, this validates our belief in developing both our students’ academic and personal potential.”

To achieve the gold award a school must meet a certain set of criteria, which includes engaging a high percentage of young people in both curricular and extracurricular activities, participating in a minimum number of competitions across different sports, and reaching out to target groups including young leaders, volunteers, and those previously identified as the school’s least-active students.

Ali Oliver, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “We are pleased to introduce the new platinum award this year to give these exemplary schools the recognition which they deserve.

“We are extremely proud of all our award winners for the passion which they have shown towards the school games and their dedication to providing opportunities for all young people to take part in competitive school sport.

“At a time when young people are becoming less healthy and less active, the school games provides opportunities for millions across the country to participate in sport and reap the benefits of an active lifestyle both on and off the field.

“Schools like Windsor High School and Sixth form are really leading the way.”

All platinum awards will be valid for two years and the school will have the opportunity to maintain their title when next applying in the summer of 2019.