PUPILS and staff at St Peter’s Primary are celebrating after being awarded their second Gold School Sport Award from sportscotland.

The national award is designed to encourage schools to continuously improve physical education (PE) and sport opportunities.

A spokesperson for St Peter’s Primary said that everyone atthe school was “absolutely delighted”, adding: “The school has a very strong sports ethos and ensures that all children have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular sport across the school year.

“The school’s Active Health Committee, which is comprised of upper school pupils, has been in place for over six years and aims to promote physical activity, fitness and sport throughout the school. In fact, the current Primary 7 pupils were the first children to take part in lunchtime sports clubs led by older pupils when they themselves were in Primary 1.

This is one of many leadership opportunities that pupils have in the school and is a fantastic way to develop key skills for the future. Most importantly, the children love it.

“As well as the support of school staff and parents, the school is very fortunate to have strong links with community coaches and with St Matthew’s Academy’s sports leaders. The cluster Active Schools coordinators - Bruce McMaster and, more recently, Archie McNicol - have organised St Matthew’s leaders to lead the delivery of sports clubs in school. It has been particularly lovely to see pupils return to the school to coach clubs having previously been Active Health members themselves just a few years ago.

“While everyone at the school knows the value of taking part in physical activity, there is also a desire to achieve success in sport. Most recently, the school athletics team was delighted to win the North Ayrshire Sports Hall Athletics competition and they will soon represent the North Ayrshire at the West of Scotland finals.”