Youth Sport Trust News

02 Mar 2023

Nottingham School Celebrates National Award Success

Nottingham School Celebrates National Award Success: L-R Wendy Taylor from the Youth Sport Trust, Kirsty Pinnington from Djanogly City Academy, David Rock Director at Complete PE and Neil Davidson, Chair of Youth Sport Trust

A school in Nottingham has picked up a prestigious national award during the Youth Sport Trust’s 2023 Awards for helping its pupils to improve their wellbeing and achievement through the power of sport. 

Djanogly City Academy was presented with the national children’s charity’s Outstanding Secondary Practice Award during a ceremony in Telford on 1 March.  

The award recognises a school which has harnessed the power of physical activity, PE, play and sport to improve young people’s mental health. 

Djanogly has taken an ambitious approach to the delivery of PE across the school. After attending Youth Sport Trust training in 2022, the school’s Head of PE Kirsty Pinnington introduced resources to encourage a focus on youth voice, asking pupils what they wanted to boost engagement and to teach young people how sport can help develop character traits across PE, sport and the wider curriculum.  

The approach was well received and saw the school standout to the judging panel for being committed to ongoing review, student feedback, and adjusting as necessary, especially when it came to engaging more girls. The judges noted that Kirsty and her department are a shining example of how to test and learn within a PE department and have the courage the do things differently. 

On winning the award, Kirsty Pinnington, Head of PE at Djanogly City Academy said: 

“It’s exciting to win this award. It’s confirmation that we are on the right path. We have been pushing this idea of ambitious PE at our school, we want to be an ambitious department and it's great to show what we have done to engage young people.  

“Within PE lessons now there is more buy in from students, they’re not only doing more, but knowing more. We’re seeing more students turn up after school in enrichment clubs and extra-curricular, it’s not just the core group anymore, we have a total range taking part. We see girls taking part who we didn’t see before. That has been really rewarding. 

“Working with the Youth Sport Trust has been positive for us, it's helped us to ask what our students want, and I admit the data shocked me. One of the things students told us was that they wanted more leadership roles in PE lessons. I would have never thought of that. It’s really positive and given us the opportunity to be ambitious.” 

The Youth Sport Trust Annual Awards dinner was themed around ‘A year of Changemakers’ following the success of the Lionesses and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games heroes who helped to inspire a generation and movement across grassroots sport. It took place at the Telford International Centre. A total of nine awards were presented by host, TV personality and author Radzi Chinyanganya.   

Ali Oliver MBE, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said:  

“The Youth Sport Trust would like to congratulate Djanogly City Academy, the winner of our Outstanding Secondary Practice Award. The school has demonstrated a huge commitment to the important role of PE, play and sport in improving young people’s mental health.   

“This generation is moving less, spending more time online and has experienced major changes in their lives following the Covid-19 pandemic. On top of this, increased social inequality amplified by the cost-of-living crisis are creating a ripple effect on their school and home life. It is thanks to changemakers like the staff at Djanogly City Academy that children will grow up healthier and happier.”  

The wider Youth Sport Trust 2023 Conference takes place in Telford today (2 March) with hundreds of headteachers, school sport professionals and businesses in attendance. The event will see Dr Alex George, former A&E now TV doctor and Youth Mental Health Ambassador for 10 Downing Street, and author of ‘A Better Day’ give an opening address alongside other high-profile speakers including a virtual address from the Secretary of State for Education, Nick Gibb MP.   

Attendees will also have the chance to network, make new connections, and take part in workshops. For more information please visit www.youthsporttrust.org/conference-2023    

ENDS   

Full list of Award winners:   

Award   

Winner   

Location   

Campbell CARE Award (Network Leader / Local Influencer Award)   

Stephen Munday from the Cam Academy Trust   

Cambridgeshire   

 Campbell CARE Award (Network Leader / International Influencer Award) 

Shaz Afzal from Rangoonwala Foundation Sport Project 

Karachi, Pakistan 

Beckwith CARE Young Changemaker   

Billy Ellerington   

Derby   

Outstanding Early Years Physical Literacy Practice   

Cherry Tree Montessori   

Dorset   

Outstanding Primary Practice   

Michael Syddall Primary School  

Catterick, North Yorks  

Outstanding Secondary Practice   

Djanogly City Academy   

Nottingham    

Outstanding Multi Academy Trust Practice   

Aspire Academy Trust   

Cornwall   

Outstanding Inclusive Practice   

Fountaindale School & Abbey School (joint winners)   

Rotherham and Mansfield   

Outstanding Contribution to the Community   

Eugene Dwaah - Evolution Sport & Neil Kersey - Barking Rugby Club   

London   

 

Contact Information

Rob Phillips
Youth Sport Trust
07825065195
press@youthsporttrust.org

Notes to editors

About the Youth Sport Trust:    

The Youth Sport Trust is a UK leading children’s charity for improving young people's wellbeing through sport and play. It empowers young people and equips educators to transform lives. Founded in 1995, it works with around 20,000 schools and inspires Changemakers to build a sense of belonging. Its vision is to create a future where every child enjoys the life-changing benefits of play and sport. Visit the YST website for ideas, tips and information www.youthsporttrust.org     

For press enquiries and requests for interviews, please contact Isabel Turner in the press office on 07825065195 or isabel.turner@youthsporttrust.org    

Twitter: @YouthSportTrust            

Facebook: YouthSportTrust           

Instagram: @youthsporttrust      

YouTube: @YouthSportTrust     

LinkedIn: Youth Sport Trust           

TikTok: youthsporttrust