EACH school across Weymouth and Portland will hold its own Olympic-themed sports day.

The Mini Art of Sport Project is aimed to encourage staff and pupils across the area to celebrate the 2012 Games.

Each school in the Chesil Education Partnership has been invited to host its own event as part of the project which has been awarded the Inspire Mark.

The first of the Olympic-inspired days were held as part of National Sports Week, and the rest will be held in the build-up to the Games.

Staff and young Olympic ambassadors from schools across the area attended workshops to get ideas.

Annie Hargreaves, Wey Valley School sport co-ordinator organised the project.

She said: “Three workshops were delivered to staff and pupils from key stage one, two and three by students from Bournemouth University and young ambassadors from Weymouth College and Wey Valley School.

“Pupils from St Nicholas and St Laurence were also on hand to demonstrate activities to visitors to the Wey-Valley based workshops.

“Together, these young people designed and delivered appropriate ideas for both cultural and physical activities for their sports days.

“They were assisted by members of staff from our partner special schools to ensure that the activities delivered in the programme were fully inclusive of all ages and abilities.”

A legacy DVD has been produced by Weymouth College students to document the workshop for those who could not attend.

Ms Hargreaves added: “The voice of young people is central to this project – from concept design and workshop delivery to filming and DVD production – and it has been awarded the Inspire Mark.

“The Mini Art of Sport Project aims to bring school communities together by celebrating the fun of being involved in sport and cultural activities.

“The year 2012 is going to be an inspiring catalyst for change in our partner schools.”

The project will aim to grow a workforce of young sports leaders to support schools across Weymouth and Portland for their future school game days.

Olympic youth ambassadors for St Nicholas and St Laurence Emily Fraher, Marcus Heggie, Daniel Henman and Sophie Suter, of Year five and six, helped out with the workshops.

Daniel said: “It was really fun helping out with the workshops and I’m looking forward to our Olympic sport day.”

Special events get underway

PUPILS at Wey Valley School and Wyke Regis Infant School kick-started National School Sport Week.

They were the first of the Chesil Education Partnership to hold their Olympic-themed events as part of the Mini Art of Sport Project.

It coincided with World Sport Day, part of Get Set network where 20,000 schools and colleges have been recognised for their commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic values.

Pupils at Wey Valley School took it in turns to test their track and athletic ability as well as taking part in drumming, having a go on the skatepark, a climbing tower and free running.

Annie Hargreaves, Wey Valley School sport co-ordinator, said: “They have had a great day and it really encompassed the Olympic and Paralympic values.”

Creative pupils at Wyke Regis Infant School performed a dance as part of an opening ceremony for their sports day.

Teacher Maureen Reynolds said: “We held a host of sporting activity with links to the Olympics and Paralympics such as bowling from a chair and a torch relay race. They had a really good time.”

Other schools in the Chesil Education partnership are getting on board with the project.

St Andrew’s Primary will hold its Olympic-themed key stage one event today while key stage two will enjoy their sports day next week.

Olympian Duncan Goodhew will pay a visit to All Saints School during their sports day tomorrow and children at Radipole Primary and Wyvern School will test their sporting skill next week.

Meanwhile, at Southwell Primary School on Portland, pupils marked World Sport Day with an international flavour.

The children have been learning about Norway and it was decided to create a human Norwegian flag involving all of the school’s 215 pupils.

Headteacher Stuart McLeod at Southwell School said: “We were so grateful to Paisley Plant Hire on Portland for lending us a huge cherry picker for the photo free of charge. Someone had to go up and it was left to me to take the photo. At 70ft above the children it was quite scary.”