Avondale Primary School – Outstanding School of the Year 2018/2019

Where to start on a truly memorable and unforgettable two years with BRCT? Quite simply put, our partnership with the trust has provided our pupils with experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. 

From player appearances, to match day experiences, the looks on our pupils’ faces as they have met and engaged with their heroes has been priceless. 

Both staff and 440 pupils have benefited from our timetabled curriculum PE lessons/CPD and this has definitely stimulated a buzz around our school with a clear determination to instil, maintain and fulfil a healthy lifestyle and love for physical activity. Being able to offer our pupils an extensive range of festivals/competitions and leagues has sparked a remarkable surge in participation numbers across our school. This provision has enabled us to offer opportunities to a whole plethora of group and individual abilities; this including both our SEN and Gifted & Talented pupils. 

In addition to this, we successfully implemented the Premier League Primary Stars Reading Programme to three separate groups of pupils who all saw their reading skills greatly improve whilst also having great fun. Through this, we were also able to spend the day as VIP journalists and report on a live BRFC game, with one pupil quoting, ‘This was the best day of my life,’ - words that every teacher strives to hear. 

Through our strong partnership with Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, we have been able to offer our pupils a whole plethora of opportunities to take part in both competitive leagues/fixtures and festivals simply for fun. This has stimulated participation numbers to surge across our school, and therefore provide memories to last a lifetime. As a result of this, last year we were awarded with the School Games Gold Mark – recognising our commitment to maximising participation in physical activity through a whole range of extra-curricular activities.

A particular highlight was hosting an ‘Active Maths’ lesson in the hall with 120 pupils and Rover the Dog, and two first team players taking part in a Guided Reading lesson.

From our timetabled PE lessons, matchday experiences, stadium tours, extra-curricular clubs and festivals/competitions, all of the images below share a common theme; a

theme that is centred upon enjoyment, inclusion, participation and making memories to last a lifetime – key principles that we pride ourselves upon at Avondale Primary School.

The overriding aim of our school is to provide each and every individual with the opportunity to partake in physical education, and we firmly believe that we are successfully achieving this through our strong partnership with the trust, paired with our dedicated and committed staff at Avondale Primary School.