A WIRRAL special needs school has been awarded the title of Merseyside Secondary School of the Year.

Clare Mount Specialist Sports College, in Moreton, was handed the award at the Merseyside Sporting Champions Dinner in Liverpool last month.

Acting deputy headteacher Dan Keefe said: “PE and Sport are at the heart of everything we do and our vision is in keeping with the Paralympic Games vision that our pupils are seen as role models and catalysts for change in perceptions towards disability and special needs.

“Our pupils benefit enormously from a range of sporting and leadership opportunities throughout the year which help them progress socially, emotionally and academically.”

The list of awards and accolades achieved by the school, which teaches children between the ages of 11 and 19 with moderate learning difficulties and autism, is impressive.

In 2014 Clare Mount has achieved the Association for Physical Education Quality Mark with distinction and the School Games Gold Kitemark for the second year in a row.

Jon White, PE and sport specialist, said: “The school has trained hundreds of staff and leaders in the last year in inclusive practice in PE and sport and we are keen to hear from more schools who want support in ensuring every child has a positive experience of sport so that they become lifelong learners.”

Headteacher Kim Webster added: “At Clare Mount we truly believe that sport changes lives. We have a number of pupils in recent who have been Games Makers at London 2012, Junior Golf Supervisors at The Open, and others who will be Rugby Ambassadors and volunteers for the Rugby World Cup.

“What makes us achieving the Merseyside Sport Secondary School of the Year award all the more impressive is that we have been judged against both other special and mainstream schools, which means our vision that our youngsters are role models and catalysts for change is working.”

The award for Clare Mount means that this the second year running that a Wirral school has won following the success of Bebington High Sports College last year.
 

  • Any school interested in finding out more about the training Clare Mount can offer can call 0151 606 9440 or visit the sports college pages of their website.