KIRKBY Stephen Grammar School Sports College is celebrating receiving the highest award for sporting education.

The school, which became a centre of excellence for sport last year, is one of 535 schools in the country to be presented with the national Sportsmark award, in recognition of its commitment to physical education and sports provision. And the Kirkby Stephen school is also one of just 95 secondary schools to receive a Sportsmark Gold for promoting the benefits of physical activity and sport throughout the school.

Sportsmark is awarded to schools that have policies and practices for the provision of a well balanced physical education programme for developing an out of hours programme that offers a range of opportunities to students and for enabling young people to move from school sports to sport in the community. Sportsmark Gold is a higher award for schools that take their commitment further and can demonstrate an outstanding commitment to school sport provision.

Head teacher David Keetley told The Messenger: "It is a great achievement for Kirkby Stephen to receive a Sportsmark Gold award. It is especially important to us to reach this high standard as we are a Sports College.

"News of the award has given the school a real sense of achievement. PE and sport has always had a high priority in our school but this recognition by Sport England gives us a special credence. I believe we must continue to reinforce the benefits of keeping active and fit to our young people as they are the next generation and sport is a key building block to a healthy adult life."

Sport England's Chief Executive Roger Draper praised the school for ensuring that physical education and sport remain a priority.

He said: "We are finding more and more of our young people are becoming overweight as a result of their diet and a sedentary lifestyle. We need to re-emphasise the benefits of sport and physical activity to children and young people through positive experiences at school."

Kirkby Stephen Grammar School Sports College is also celebrating the swimming success of student Hannah Mosley, 15, who having come third in the National Club Competition in Manchester has now been ranked 7th in the country. Hannah will be competing in the Scottish National Competition in Glasgow in July.

Mr Keetley added: "We are all very proud of Hannah's achievements in swimming and look forward to hopefully seeing her represent England in the future."