Press Release: Coventry school Get Set for London 2012

A Coventry school has grabbed the Olympic baton with both hands after becoming the first in the region to join a national 2012-inspired education network.Park Hill Primary, in Lower Eastern Green Lane, has become the first school in Coventry and Warwickshire to be accepted in to the London 2012 Get Set network.The Get Set network is a special community of schools and colleges which demonstrate a commitment to the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect and the Paralympic values of inspiration, determination, courage and equality.As a result of its achievement in joining the network, the school was presented with an official London 2012 commemorative plaque and certificate by Coventry Olympic runner David Moorcroft during a special assembly where pupils explained the work they had been doing around London 2012.Previously eight pupils had taken part in a specially arranged visit the site of the Olympic park as a further reward.Rebecca Bollands, from Park Hill Primary, said: “We are very excited to be accepted into the Get Set network.“We have many Olympic themed activities planned and being part of the network will motivate the pupils to really get involved and celebrate the Olympics.“We hope that our participation in Get Set and London 2012 will encourage our whole school community to try out new sports and become more active.”As part of the programme the school has begun a project which sees them linked with eight other schools in Denmark, Spain, Iceland, Sicily, Guadeloupe, Malta, Italy and Turkey.The project aims to encourage everyone in the schools to participate in more sport, promote and encourage the Olympic and Paralympic values, enable pupils to understand how sporting events can break down barriers, be inclusive and promote intercultural understanding.The pupils in all eight schools will work together on a number of activities including designing special reward certificates, interviewing parents and grandparents about their favourite sporting memories and planning a mini Olympics that will take place using the same format in each country.One third of schools across the sub-region have already signed up to the Get Set scheme and the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games aim to have all schools in the region registered by 2012.David Moorcroft, lead ambassador for the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games, said: “It is fantastic to see Park Hill Primary embracing the forthcoming 2012 Games in the fullest possible sense. “We hope this project will inspire even more pupils and teachers in the region to incorporate the Olympic and Paralympic values into their school or colleges curriculum and make the most of London hosting the 2012 Games.”Any school or college in the UK can become a member of the Get Set network and receive rewards and recognition from London 2012. For more information or to register visit www.getset.london2012.com.ENDS Media enquiries:Simon GilbertAdvent Communications2 Edison BuildingElectric WharfSandy LaneCoventry CV1 4JATel: 024 7663 3636http://www.advent-communications.co.uk