GIRLS at Trinity High School are really getting into fitness and sport as they take the lead in the This Girl Can drive in Redditch.
Launched by Borough Mayor Jenny Wheeler, the aim is to show students that sport not only makes you fitter, but is fun, enhances self-esteem and makes you feel good too.
The school got the honour of representing the town in the week-long Sports Partnership Herefordshire-Worcestershire programme after House head and PE teacher Amy Henman penned an application that really appealed to organisers.
“I wanted it to encourage the girls to take part in a sporting activity to build confidence and self-esteem,” she said.
“Only a small number of girls take part in sport outside school, but this week, through our ‘Peach Pass’ a whole range of free activities have been opened to them at places like the Abbey Stadium and Arrowvale Sports Centre.”
These include doing clubbercise, body combat, boxing, dance, self-defence, rugby, PE and tennis.
Head of PE Rachel Taylor said: “It’s all about getting girls into sport. At their age there are a lot of things going on, hormones are changing and there are concerns about body image and it’s about getting them to break down those barriers.
“We’re here to show you can take up a sport and still look good, so we’re giving them a range of options so it becomes part of their own lives once they leave school.”
Subtle changes include allowing girls to wear leggings for PE and changing the kit colour to a neutral black.
Mayor Wheeler said: “I think this is great. So much sport has been linked to the idea of winning and while many girls might not be competitive they do like taking part in activities and you don’t have to be good at something to enjoy doing it.”
Headteacher Adrian Ward added: “We’re linking this to the well being of the whole person. In this day and age the school curriculum is so squeezed but we believe in producing rounded young people, and particularly with the emphasis on mental health, this is such an important thing to do.”
