Portree Primary School receives double Gold School Sport Award

It’s a ‘double whammy’ for Portree Primary School today (29 November 2017) as they received their second Gold School Sport Award from Garry Reid of sportscotland.

As part of the school’s celebrations, Ronald Ross visited and led shinty training for the pupils. All coaches and volunteers were invited to share a celebratory cake ahead of an award presentation to the whole school. 

Vice Chair of Highland Council’s People Committee (and former Portree Primary Head Teacher), Councillor John Finlayson, who was instrumental in establishing school sport at Portree Primary, was invited to speak and congratulated the school on its achievement.

He said: “It is great to see Portree Primary School again leading the way and following on from being the first school in the Highlands and Islands, to receive a Gold School Sport Award, it is now the first school to be re-accredited with a Gold Award. 

“This award again confirms the great support the school gets from the local community and the dedication of staff, parents, coaches and community members to ensuring that all pupils at Portree Primary School have opportunities to develop healthy life styles and sporting skills and attitudes.”

Sara Matheson, Portree Primary Head Teacher added: “All of us at Portree Primary School are delighted to receive our second Gold Award and to be the first school to achieve this. 

“Thanks to the dedication of coaches, parents and volunteers, our pupils have access to over 40 extra-curricular activities each week. With support from Active Schools, our own pupils have become young leaders themselves and have engaged their peers in games and dance with huge success.”

She added: “All of these experiences offer invaluable opportunities for our young people to achieve and succeed beyond the classroom walls and to develop skills and a passion for activities that will stay with them beyond their primary school years.”

Portree Primary was the first school in the Highlands and Islands to receive the Gold Sport Scotland Award from sportscotland in June 2015.