MENSTON St Mary's RC School is celebrating receiving a national Gold Award from Sport England in recognition of their outstanding commitment to physical education and sports provision.

St Mary's is the first Leeds school to obtain this prestigious award.

St Mary's is one of 507 schools in England to be commended in this year's awards but one of only 50 of those receiving Sportsmark Gold status.

England World Cup winner Trevor Brooking, chairman of Sports England, praised the school for ensuring that physical education and sport remain a priority.

He said: "This school is to be applauded for its consistent efforts in making sure youngsters are keeping fit and healthy. T

"They recognise the value of physical activity, not just in terms of health and fitness education but also in how it can help pupils to achieve in other subjects. I believe that sport can also help combat problems such as social exclusion and youth offending."

Sportsmark is awarded to schools that have effective policies and practices for the provision of a well-balanced physical education programme; for developing an out of school hours programme that offers a range of opportunities to students and for enabling young people to move from school sport to sport in the community.

Sportsmark Gold awarded to St Mary's is a higher award for schools that take their commitment further and can demonstrate an outstanding commitment to school sport provision.

David Geldart, Director of PE and Sport at the school, said: "News of this award has given the school a real sense of achievement at national level.

"Credit must go to all the staff, students, parents and other partners who work so hard in this vital area of the curriculum. National recognition from Sport England through the country's highest award for physical education and sport is a great honour.

"I am delighted with the award but there is still much more work to do.

"I believe we must continue to reinforce the benefits of keeping active and fit to our young people as they are the next generation and sport is a key building block to healthy adult life."