STAFF and pupils at Lumphinnans Primary School were delighted to be celebrating the achievement of their sportscotland Gold Award.

The sportscotland School Sport Award is a national, Lottery funded, initiative designed to encourage schools to continuously improve physical education (PE) and school sport opportunities.

The sportscotland School Sport Award: Encourages schools to self reflect and continuously improve; Puts young people at the forefront of the decision making and planning of PE and sport in their school; Helps schools to increase young people’s opportunities and engagement in PE & school sport; Helps schools to put PE & school sport at the heart of their planning, practice and ethos; and Recognises and celebrates successful PE & school sport models.

Said headteacher at Lumpinnanns, Linda Skelding: "Participating in sport has many benefits, physically, socially and emotionally, and at Lumphinnans we are seeing the impact this is having on our pupils.

"Taking part in sporting events both within school and outwith has created a sense of belonging and identity as well as developed skills such as resilience, team work and problem solving.

"Pupils are also showing a have a go attitude, a willingness to participate and have high aspirations to achieve in the field of sport. We would like to thank Active Schools co-ordinators, Young Ambassadors and Sports Scotland for all the support they have shown us".