Ardnamurchan High School in Lochaber is celebrating after securing not one but two gold awards for its commitment to sport and physical activity.
The school has achieved a Gold School Sport Award from sportscotland and has also been recognised by the Camanachd Association as a Gold Shinty School.
The sportscotland award is the highest level available and reflects a whole school effort to place physical activity at the heart of daily life.
To reach gold status, staff and pupils had to show strong practice across physical education, clubs, competitive sport, leadership and clear pathways that encourage young people to stay active for life.
Shinty has been central to that journey.
Strong links with Ardnamurchan Camanachd have helped grow the sport within the school, leading to its inclusion in the PE curriculum and the opportunity to host the Donella Crawford Shinty Tournament.
Alan Gray, High Life Highland Active Schools Coordinator, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to see Ardnamurchan High School recognised in this way.
“To achieve two gold awards for our commitment and dedication to sport and physical activity is amazing.
“In order to gain the Gold Sport Award from sportscotland, we must meet a number of requirements across eight separate areas of sports and activity including, physical education, clubs and communities, competitive opportunities, celebrating sport and developing our pupils and deliverers.
“Our school Sports Ambassadors have been key to all of this.
“It took many years of hard work to achieve a Gold from the Camanachd Association, having been a Silver Shinty School previously, so this is a massive achievement and grateful thanks to our shinty ambassadors past and present along with PE teacher Miss Akmolova and Acting Head Simon Patterson who have been instrumental in getting us over the line for gold!”
The awards were presented during a two day Health and Wellbeing Festival at the school, which also featured rugby, shinty and football sessions led by local coaches and national bodies.
Local employers, charities and organisations including the NHS, High Life Highland, UHI and Lochaber Women’s Aid also took part, giving pupils a wider view of opportunities beyond the classroom.
Acting Head Teacher Simon Patterson said:
“Health and wellbeing is at the heart of our ethos as a school so it was a pleasure to welcome a variety of coaches, speakers and employers to celebrate with us through our Health and Wellbeing Festival.
“It was the brainchild of Alan Gray, our Active Schools Coordinator, who invited his wealth of contacts to Ardnamurchan High School over two days to inspire us in a variety of sports, activities and events.
“A major highlight for the school during the Festival was the presentation of our Gold School Sport Award and our Gold Shinty School Award.
“These are in recognition of the partnerships with governing bodies, local coaches and our own PE staff in delivering high quality teaching and coaching of sport and especially shinty.
“My thanks again to Alan and also Irina Akmolova, our PE teacher for their ongoing work in these areas.
“Small, rural schools like Ardnamurchan rely heavily on partnership working and this was a great example of bringing people together to give our pupils positive and rewarding experiences.”
Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said:
“Ardnamurchan High School’s achievement of the Gold School Sport Award is a testament to the school’s commitment to placing sport, physical activity and leadership at the heart of the pupil experience.
“The dedication shown by staff, pupils and the wider community is truly inspiring, and it’s fantastic to see a small rural school creating real opportunities for young people to thrive.
“Congratulations to everyone involved on this well-deserved recognition and I look forward to seeing the school continue to build on their success.”
Highland Council education committee chair John Finlayson added:
“Congratulations to Ardnamurchan High School for this well-deserved honour from sportscotland.
“They have demonstrated why encouraging and providing opportunities in physical education, sport, wellbeing and leadership is so important.
“It brings people together, has huge benefits for our physical and mental health, opens pathways and builds vital life lessons.
“It is especially encouraging to see the school embrace sporting partnerships in the community, in the way they have with their local shinty club.
“Partnership working is key in rural areas, and this was a great example of bringing people together from within the community who can help and shape positive experiences for our young people.”
For a small rural school, two gold awards in one week is no small feat.
It is a sign that sport, when woven into the fabric of a school, can lift far more than trophies.
