Sheffield Girls’ shortlisted in two national education awards

We’re delighted that our incredible sports provision, as well as Year 10 Samira Sanders and her brother Daniel’s COVID-19 NHS badge initiative have helped earn our School two shortlistings in a national education awards line-up.

Sheffield Girls’ has been shortlisted for the Sports Award and Student Initiative of the Year in the nationally renowned TES Independent School Awards 2021.

Judges were impressed with both our creative commitment to excellence and participation in sport, exercise, health and wellbeing, as well as Samira’s special pin badge initiative for NHS workers which resulted in sales of more than 20,000 items.

In the last year, despite changes due to Covid-19 restrictions we have continued our exceptional elite sport’s programme with 37 city and county team titles, 12 regional titles and 21 teams reaching national finals in 8 different sports and 3 national team titles in trampolining. We have also been encouraging our girls to participate in non-competitive activities including Movement evening, an annual display of gymnastics, dance and trampolining involving 60% of pupils from across the school.

And when schools moved online, sport carried on in bedrooms and communities including a home-based sport challenge week with events including dustbin lid discus training, washing line high jump, tights hammer throwing, plus an online ‘Nastics Natter’ and a military drill for VE Day.

Liz Rodgers, Assistant Head (Co-Curricular) added: “We believe involvement in physical activity provides every girl with life skills that are fundamental to her health and success. Through exposure to a myriad physical activities and unconditional encouragement we aim to ignite a sporting spark in every student that keeps burning throughout their life.

“The impact can be seen in participation levels and achievement from Reception to Year13. Our system of development allows a broad and happy involvement at base-level but offers opportunities for national recognition at the top.

“Self-belief is one of the most important things we teach. Senior girls run clubs, teams and even prepare students from our partnering state primary schools for performances and fixtures.”

School Sport Magazine ranked Sheffield Girls’ 18th in England in its top 200 sporting schools across all sectors in 2020.

Head, Nina Gunson said: “These awards highlight the most outstanding provision that the independent sector has to offer and we are hugely proud to have been recognised in the shortlistings.

“The student initiative award shortlisting shows how an individual can take an opportunity and be driven by an idea with those around her, and the school is hugely supportive of this accomplished project.

“Both shortlistings emphasise the importance the school places on allowing students to explore, challenge and make a difference, in an ever-changing world.” 

For the very first time, the winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony on Friday 30th April.