Blog

The Autumn term is traditionally the time for school cross country and several events take place across the borough, culminating in the Calderdale Schools Cross Country Championships through which winners go on to compete in West Yorkshire finals at Temple Newsam in the spring.

Since launching in Autumn 2023, Calderdale’s Healthy Schools Award has been warmly welcomed by the borough’s schools. Co-produced with teachers and staff from local schools and designed to be easy to complete, the awards recognise all the excellent work schools do to support children and young people to be healthy and happy.

New Road Primary School in Sowerby Bridge has set an unprecedented standard for health and wellbeing, achieving the highest recognition in every category of the Calderdale Healthy Schools award program. Recognised for its exceptional efforts in mental and emotional wellbeing, physical activity, and food and nutrition, the school has become the first in Calderdale to secure Gold level awards in all three criteria.

Parkinson Lane Primary School is a large three-form entry school in Halifax, West Yorkshire. They were the first Calderdale School to become part of the Creating Active Schools programme in 2021 where staff immediately implemented the concept of active registers with pupils performing simple moves such as heel-raises or squats whilst waiting in line. This resulted in children becoming more aware of how small changes in activity can benefit them and contribute to a healthier lifestyle.

Well done to all schools who showed how they support pupil fitness and care for the climate by signing up to the Sustrans annual Big Walk and Wheel challenge.

Each month we’ll shine a spotlight on one of our Active Schools and highlight all that they do to support not only staff and pupils but also the wider community to be physically active. To kick off the series, this month’s spotlight falls on Ash Green Community Primary School.