Youngsters test skills at festivals

10:51am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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NEARLY 500 children have taken their first steps on the sporting ladder in a series of skills festivals.

Primary school pupils aged five and six took part in four sessions hosted by four secondary schools, as part of the first National Schools Sports Week.

About 120 children were involved in each festival, organised by Chester-le- Street School Sport Partnership.

The youngsters tested their throwing, catching, running, bowling, fielding and agility skills.

More than 20 students from each of the host secondary schools - The Hermitage School, in Chester-le-Street, Fyndoune Community College, in Sacriston, Roseberry Sports and Community College, in Pelton, and Park View Community School, in Chester-le-Street - acted as young leaders at the festivals.

Training sessions were led by school sports coordinators and a community multi-skills coach.

National Schools Sports Week is supported by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.

The Youth Sport Trust hopes to get more than three million children involved across the country, the largest number ever to take part in physical education and school sport at one time.