Over 500 pupils from primary schools across Swansea have taken part in Gower College Swansea’s annual Dragon Multi-Skills and Sport Festival at the Elba Sports Complex.
In beautiful sunshine, the pupils were put through their paces in a range of activities such as hockey, rounders, football, netball, rugby and golf.
“The main aim of this event is to bring the community together and for the school children to have a run around and pick up some new skills,” says lecturer Sion Cairns. “The event is for everyone. You don’t have to be fantastic at PE to take part, the idea is to have fun and have a go at some games you might not have tried before.”
Once again, our students were integral to the success of the day. Second year Level 3 Sport students were responsible for organising the event from its initial planning stages right through to overseeing the logistics on the day, such as meeting and greeting the schools, overseeing the arrivals and departures of coaches, and working out all the timings of the packed itinerary.
Meanwhile first year Level 3 Sport and Sport Science students were in charge of delivering the sessions and coaching the children in groups ranging from small (three or four at a time) up to large (up to 25 children).
The College is also indebted to Ospreys in the Community, who helped to run the rugby station and who brought along an inflatable tackle activity and their mascot Ozzie who was a great hit with the children.
Our students complete a Rugby Leaders qualification as part of their course which led to the College forming strong links with Ospreys in the Community as they are required to visit local primary schools and deliver rugby sessions.
The primary schools involved this year Crwys, Gorseinon, Pontlliw, Cilla, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Y Login Fach, Pontardulais, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bryniago, Pengelli, Gendros and Gowerton, Penyrheol and Pontybrenin.
Feedback from the schools has been extremely positive, with one head teacher commenting:
“I would like to thank Sion and the staff and students from Gower College Swansea for inviting our Year 3 and 4 pupils…as always, my staff spoke very highly of the organisation of the event and the enjoyment of our pupils.”