Triathlete Jonny Brownlee visits school rated Good by Ofsted

Olympic and World Champion triathlon medallist Jonny Brownlee visited Cottingley Village Primary School, part of Exceed Academies Trust, on Wednesday to launch a new initiative to inspire and motivate every child to increase their participation in sport.

Children and staff celebrate Cottingley Village Primary School being rated Good by Ofsted. (Image: Newsquest)

The school, praised as Good by Ofsted following an inspection in September, introduced a brand-new House Team Competition which provides every child the opportunity to participate in competitive sport representing their House Team.

The four Houses have been inspired by local sporting heroes including Adil Rashid (cricketer), Nicola Adams (boxer), Hannah Cockcroft (British wheelchair racer) and Jonny Brownlee (triathlete).

Jonny Brownlee visits with children at Cottingley Village Primary School. (Image: Newsquest)

As the inspiration behind Team Brownlee, Jonny officially launched the competition during a special assembly and question and answer session.

Mr Ruthven, Leader of PE at Cottingley Village Primary School, said: “We hope by creating opportunities for every child in the school to take part in competitive sport events across this academic year we will inspire our children to become more active, improve their resilience and communication skills and help them understand what it means to be part of a team.

“We are delighted Jonny has taken time out of his busy schedule to personally come and provide the children with his own insight into the life of a world class athlete, the benefits sport can have on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and just how much fun competitive sport can be.”

Triathlete Jonny Brownlee with his Olympic gold medal. (Image: Newsquest)

The Cottingley school is also celebrating retaining its ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted in its latest inspection at the end of September.

In a glowing report, the inspector described Cottingley as a school where “they have high expectations of all pupils’ achievement and pupils try their best to realise these expectations”, and “pupils, including those with special educational needs and / or disabilities (SEND), achieve well”.

The report also praised the school’s resourced provision for pupils with SEND, where they recognised this resource “is highly effective in helping pupils regulate their feelings and helps them focus on their learning”.

Inspectors also recognised reading was a priority at the school.

Mrs Andrea Mannings and Miss Debs Ward, Co-Acting Headteachers, said: “We are delighted and extremely proud of this report, which recognises the hard work and dedication of everyone in school and the wider community. We encourage wider personal development so our pupils know their views are important and they can have a positive impact in the school and beyond.”

The inspector also recognised the positive impact of being part of Exceed Academes Trust in that the “Trust has assisted the school in reducing staff workload” and “Trustees work closely with the local advisory board and school to support and challenge the quality of education pupils receive”.