main content Bromley School Sport Partnership
Integrated Swimming Gala 2006

120 children from four of Bromley's Special schools and five mainstream secondary schools came together for a morning of fun and competition at the 19 integrated swimming gala organised by the Bromley School Sport Partnership, held at St Olave's Grammar School on 9 March.

The event pairs together a mainstream and a special school into five teams who compete in a number of races ranging from walking races for non swimmers to full length races for stronger swimmers. Each race is a relay involving either one or two competitors from each pair of schools to compete together. The event culminates in a raft race where teams of six swimmers pull a raft with a swimmer on top the length of the pool. The focus of the event is on having fun and giving children the chance to integrate between mainstream and special schools in a sporting environment.

There was no scoring and therefore no winners and losers. However, each school nominated a performer of the day who was awarded the team's certificates by the Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley.  

A Council spokesman said: "This gala continues to be very popular with participants and guests alike. It brings our special and mainstream schools together in a competitive yet enjoyable event".

Adam Lewis, PE teacher at The Priory (a school which has recently been awarded specialist sports college status) was full of praise for the event: "Our pupils really enjoyed themselves and it was great to see how well they integrated with pupils from Rectory Paddock."

The event was organised by Giles Platt who is a School Sports Coordinator for The Priory and St Olave's family of schools. Mr Roy Archer and a team of year 10 Sports Leaders from St Olave's ran the event on the day.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For further information contact Andy Fish, sports partnership development manager on 01689 819219, or email andrew.fish@bromley.gov.uk.