School Games Determination Festival returns

By GM Moving | 24 October 2023 | TAGS: School Games, education, Children and young people

What is The School Games Determination Festival? 

GM Moving School Games in partnership with Graystone Action Park hosted a festival of physical activity to support year 7 pupils from schools across the area to settle into their new secondary school.

Pupils from ten Greater Manchester boroughs were welcomed to Graystone Action Park in October for a day of skateboarding, bouldering, scooter riding and freestyle gymnastics. 

The activities were designed to give the pupils a positive experience of physical activity and increase their confidence, determination and resilience. Benefits that they can use to support their transition into high school.

Check out last year's video here to find out more about the festival. 

The Festival’s second year

This is the second year we have run the festival and this year we went even bigger! 

We had close to 170 children from 17 schools from 9 of our GM boroughs. When asking children what they thought of the day and what they gained and achieved, here are some of the responses: “Fantastic, fun, amazing, enjoyable, I felt brave”

In asking the teachers what qualities do you feel an event like this  allows the pupils to aquire/develop? We had some really positive responses:

The Pastoral Manager at St Joseph's RCHS Horwich Bolton shared their feedback;

"The majority of pupils selected to go have struggled to make friends and have a support network at school. The event enabled them to meet new people. In addition, met staff who they now know they can go to if they need any support. Pupils came back and had lunch together and were all discussing how the found the even 'epic' and would love to all go back together."

A parent from the festival said;

"Since my daughter attended the determination festival it has made such a difference to her mental health and confidence, she met some lovely girls on the trip and has become good friends with another pupil since that day. She’s been less upset at home, her panic attacks have reduced and has felt less lonely in school.  She really got the boost of confidence she needed."

Future plans

This year we intend to provide the same pupils with an additional experience in the Spring term. This will;

• act as an incentive to the pupils and teachers to sustain the good work
• further promote the skills and characteristics we have seen at the festival
• allow the children and teachers to celebrate the success stories
• give them something to look forward to and aim towards
• allow schools to align to whole school priorities and promote good attendance/behaviour 
• provide an opportunity to promote youth voice giving the children a say in what the follow up event will look like.

More information on The School Games in Greater Manchester can be found here.