Top State School in the North of England for School Sport
25th November 2019
St Mary’s College are delighted to announce that we have been ranked 12th in School Sport Magazine’s Top 100 UK State Schools for 2019. This positions the school as the top performer not only in Yorkshire and the Humber but in the North of England. The ranking is based on 20 different sports and 120 qualifying competitions, details of which can be found at https://www.schoolsportmag.co.uk/qualifying-competitions.
The college is thrilled to have been placed so well, particularly given that there are now 3,448 state secondary schools nationally. This prestigious accomplishment is a testament to the hard work, dedication and world class commitment of our PE department, teaching and non-teaching staff and of course our fantastic students of whom we are incredibly proud.
St Mary’s College firmly believes in the power of school sport and the many benefits that regular physical activity has on young people. Building on a strong heritage, the school continues to invest heavily in our provision for sport at all levels and maintains strong partnerships with local professional and amateur clubs, coaches and instructors.
It is important to note that this accolade does not reflect the range and breadth of the St Mary’s College provision; for example, the outstanding inclusion sport programme for which the college is nationally recognised.
Mark Arridge (Director of Sport) said, “this is a major achievement for the school placing us in the top 0.35% of state schools in the country. I would like to place on record, a huge thank you to students, parents/carers and staff across the school for their continual hard work and support. It is a testament to the ability of our students who regularly perform on the regional and national stage. It proves to any young person that ordinary students, regardless of background or starting points can achieve truly extraordinary things.”