Support for Swanmead Community School's Invasion Games Festival

13 February 2008

A donation from Branston's Seavington St Michael site has enabled 120 Year 3 and 4 pupils from local First Schools around Swanmead to enjoy a number of exercises designed to encourage teamwork and communication.

The festival, which was co-ordinated by Swanmead's School Sport Co-ordinator, Mark Lees, was hosted on the Swanmead Community School site. It was the first of its kind within the Swanmead cluster for pupils of that particular age group.

The pupils enjoyed ninety minutes participating in a number of small sided invasion games, focussing on developing cross-sport specific skills including movement, balance, throwing and catching and kicking.

The festival encouraged teamwork and communication and ensured pupils from different schools were not only able to represent their school but show they could work effectively together with pupils who they might not have met before. The day's activities were led by Year 7 pupils from Swanmead Community School who have ben identified using the Sports Partnership Gifted and Talented programme.

One of the Year 7 pupils said: "I really enjoy working with pupils from the First Schools. It's great fun and gives me an opportunity to help them in their physical development."

Organisers praised the effort and leadership demonstrated by all of the Year 7 pupils and said the event was a huge success. "I'd like to thank everyone for their effort and enthusiasm," said Mark Lees. "It's been a great day and would not have been possible without the support of Branston."

Ian Wait, General Manager of Branston's Seavington St Michael site, added: "As a major employer in the region and a company which relies on teamwork to deliver our product we were happy to lend our support. There's certainly a connection between potatoes - one of the best sources of energy as part of a well balanced diet - and adopting an active life!"