A WIDER range of sports are on offer to pupils at Calverley CofE Primary thanks to increased support from staff, parents, clubs and a company which has sponsored new kit for the school.

Along with sport staples, football and netball, the school now offers athletics, cross country running, cricket, golf, climbing, gymnastics, tennis and orienteering. In addition, Calverley company Proctor Silo Cleaning has provided three sets of sports kit for the school.

In a bid to further improve sports at the school, a sports development plan was drawn up after Headteacher Bob Curran appointed Year 3 teacher Will Overton as Sports Co-ordinator.

The school already has a thriving boys aged 9 to 11 football team which were recently runners up in the Fulneck School Annual Football Tournament. The girls’ netball team is also successful and was recently unbeaten on the Pudsey area schools netball competition.

A girls’ football team started at the end of May, supported by teacher Sarah Cowley. The team has come about as a result of the school introducing girls only football in the playground every Wednesday.

A golf after school club has started, with support from Calverley Golf Club and also at the end of May, pupils will be honing their cricket skills, with support from the Chance To Shine coaching programme, assisted by Yorkshire County Cricket Club

Headteacher Bob Curran said: “The school has thought hard about providing an even better sports offer. Some of the ideas came from the School Council. Staff regularly put time into coaching the pupils and we get a lot of support from parents – particularly with transporting children to sports events.

“The efforts we are making are already paying off as we are winning more tournaments and gaining more team and individual trophies at various events.”