At Colne Engaine we recognise and embrace the value of sport, not just for the positive impact it has on health and wellbeing, but for its role in developing collaboration, team spirit and leadership qualities. We pride ourselves on the reputation we have built up locally as a small school with a competitive spirit and excellent sportsmanship: - we are often complimented on the way our teams conduct themselves when representing us and they do so with pride, knowing the role they have as ambassadors for our school. We participate in competitions and festivals with other local schools in the Halstead and Hedingham area through the N W Essex Sports School Partnership, which is a fantastic opportunity to develop skills and offer our children a competitive arena in which to perform. We regularly take part in competitions in hockey, rugby, football, netball, cross-country, cricket, sportshall athletics, rounders, outdoor athletics and even cheerleading across year groups. Our sports coaches are passionate about engaging all children in enjoying sport and physical activity in some way – and they work alongside teaching staff to develop sporting skills through the curriculum as well as running sporting activities after school, through lunch and play times. We run a wide variety of sporting clubs over the year, including rugby, football, netball, cricket, rounders, basketball, cheerleading, athletics and even bootcamp! We also run a highly successful gym trail, to support the gross motor skills development in identified children.

Swimming

Children from Rowan class have the opportunity to go swimming in the Autumn term each year and where children struggle to learn to swim 25m, they have the opportunity to participate further when they are in Sycamore class.

Recognising talent

We feel it is important to encourage sporting talent and we actively signpost and facilitate children who show a particular interest or talent towards participating at club level. We have forged links and with local clubs offering development opportunities for our young people, with the intention of sparking a lifelong interest in an active and healthy lifestyle and in the mental wellbeing benefits of being part of a team.

National Opportunities

We always look for opportunities to be outward looking and to engage with athletes to inspire our children. During recent years we have been lucky enough to • act as team mascots for the England Army Rugby team in the World cup Forces Rugby tournament • work alongside an artist to create a beautiful banner to celebrate the Tour of Britain cycling race when it passed locally, which the whole school attended, cheering the cyclists on as they rode across the Essex/Suffolk border • make a film charting the journey to the podium of Beijing Paralympic Boccia gold medallist and 2012 Paralympian Dan Bentley. Dan has become a friend to us, coaching children across the school in Boccia skills and coming along as guest of honour to our Sports days since 2012 • work closely as one of just two associate schools with Baz Gray, who aims to create a world record in crossing the Antarctic continent, solo, unsupported and unassisted during Winter 2019-20