They have all achieved the School Games Mark, a government-led national awards scheme. The BEST schools celebrating are:

• Gothic Mede Academy – Platinum
• Robert Bloomfield Academy – Platinum
• Etonbury Academy – Gold
• Langford Village Academy – Gold
• Pix Brook Academy – Gold
• Campton Academy - Silver

All six academies work closely with the Redborne School Sport Partnership, a collaboration of nearly 60 schools across Central Bedfordshire which focuses on delivering the School Games programme.

Andy Cavill, Partnership Manager and School Games Organiser, said: “The School Games Mark celebrates each school’s provision for PE and school sport, and helps demonstrate to governors and senior leadership that they are on the right track and promoting health and wellbeing to children.

“In their applications, each school has to reach a certain level in a set of key criteria which determines whether they get a Bronze, Silver or Gold award. For schools that are more established in the scheme and have had Gold for at least four years, they can then be awarded Platinum status.

“The criteria changes slightly year-on-year, but includes things like the number of hours of PE on the curriculum, extracurricular provision, plus engaging in both intra-school and inter-school competition.”

The School Games Mark launched in 2012 to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community.

Participating in this process allows schools to evaluate their PE provision and assists them in developing an action plan for future progress.

What our schools say –

Gothic Mede Academy PE lead, Carolyn Roberts:

Carolyn Roberts, PE lead at Gothic Mede Academy, said: “We were thrilled and honoured to be awarded Platinum accreditation this year. We pride ourselves on our diverse PE provision including provision of specialist coaches in cricket and tennis, healthy living days including skipping workshops and cross-curricular dance and geography days.

“We also provide a huge range of diverse before and after school clubs which include experience of minor sports alongside mindfulness active clubs such as yoga. Our mantra is 'healthy body, healthy mind'.”

Robert Bloomfield Academy subject leader for PE, Sarah Robson:

“We are incredibly proud to have been awarded the Platinum mark again, a status we have maintained since the Schools Game Mark was launched. This is a real testament to the hard work all the staff have put in over the years.

“It is also fantastic to see how the provision of PE across the trust is strengthening as more schools are gaining their Silver, Gold and Platinum Marks. A massive congratulations to all schools and staff for the time and effort you have put in.

“These awards can't be achieved without the participation of pupils and support from the partnership and parents. All of this has resulted in greater opportunities and outcomes for all pupils across BEST.”

Etonbury Academy Head of Girls' PE, Sophie Hilton:

“We are so delighted to be awarded the Gold mark, it has been a fantastic year for our students both in and out of school.

“We have absolutely loved seeing all seven year groups from Years 5 to 11 come together every single day supporting each other through sport.

“We have been so grateful for the commitment from teachers in all departments, our students and parents’ dedication to sport at Etonbury Academy and look forward to another year of sport.”

Langford Village Academy PE lead, Lian Potter:

“We are really proud to have achieved Gold this year. We have worked extremely hard to increase physical activity levels and embed PE as a whole school focus.

“After the last couple of years with the effects of Covid, we are so happy to be back providing opportunities for children and experiencing the positive impact these have on the children.”

Pix Brook Academy Head of PE Jay Szwajbak:

“Having only opened in 2019 this is our first year of applying and I’m thrilled that we have gained Gold status.

“It’s good to have this recognition for what we have achieved in a short period of time, which is focused on increasing the participation of our young people in physical activity.

“Our extracurricular attendances have been through the roof this year, with 75 per cent of our pupils attending clubs and over half representing the school in competition.”

Pictures: Top, staff and pupils from Gothic Mede, Etonbury, Pix Brook and Robert Bloomfield Academies gathered together to receive their Schools Games Mark certificates from Andy Cavill of Redborne SSP. Middle, children from Langford Village Academy. Bottom, Campton Academy receive their award.