Eastwood up for top school award (From Echo)

Eastwood up for top school award

6:40pm Tuesday 1st November 2011 in Schools By James Colasanti

EASTWOOD School has been nominated for an Essex School of the Year award.

The PE department at the school in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, has earned the nomination at the Essex Sport Awards 2011.

It faces competition from William de Ferrers School in South Woodham Ferrers, and Chelmer Vall-ey High School in Chelmsford.

Eastwood’s head of PE Scott Maclean said it was due to the hard work put in by pupils and staff, particularly over the past eight years.

He said: “We are only a very small school compared to others in the area, but we work very hard and continue to punch above our weight in terms of sporting achievements.

“And our pupils also do so much in terms of helping out at other schools, so this is a deserved recognition for all of them.”

Pupils from Eastwood have helped out at sports days and competitions at more than 50 junior schools in the county.

And the school has a great record in competition itself, including places in the national finals of both the cross country and track over the past year, and an appearance in the last two county basketball finals.

Pupils regularly take part in an hour’s sport before lessons start in the morning, and many play team sports until 10pm at night.

The school also recently unveiled a £1million Mondo athletics track, and its basketball facilities have been used to host regional competitions.

It is the sixth consecutive year for the Essex Sport Awards, which gives recognition to the best sporting talent in our county with awards including Unsung Hero, Coach of the Year, Community Club of the Year and the Sports Personality of the Year Award.

The ceremony to be held at Colchester United FC’s Weston Homes Community Stadium on Wednesday, November 16.

For more information visit www.sportessex.com.