Year 8 embrace inclusive sport with Games2Inspire

Last week, Year 8 pupils took part in Games2Inspire, a bespoke inclusive sports day designed by Power2Inspire, which explored inclusive sport through a range of adapted activities. The day challenged their perceptions of ability while building teamwork, empathy and confidence.

Power2Inspire is a charity founded by John Willis, who was born without fully formed arms and legs. The organisation promotes a simple but powerful vision of a society where everyone can take part in sport, regardless of ability, age, disability or background. Its message of “no one left on the bench” is central to every Games2Inspire event. Through assemblies and practical experiences, pupils are encouraged to rethink assumptions about ability and to recognise the value of inclusion and respect.

The Perse Year 8 pupils experienced this message first-hand through a series of inclusive activities designed to be accessible, engaging and thought-provoking.

Pupils rotated through a range of adapted sports, including sitting netball, goalball and new age kurling, each offering them a different experience of teamwork and participation. In sitting netball, pupils remained seated, which meant they relied more on communication and positioning. Goalball, played wearing blindfolds and using a ball that contains bells, challenged pupils to listen carefully and trust their teammates. New age kurling tested their control and accuracy, encouraging them to think tactically about each shot.

They also completed a sponsored Inclusive Kilometre, in which pupils completed a kilometre while blindfolded and guided by a partner, and took part in the 108 Challenge, inspired by John Willis’s 108-mile kayak in 2023, where each form completed an activity 108 times, encouraging pupils to work together and challenge themselves as a team. Funds raised from these activities will support Power2Inspire’s work in promoting inclusive sport. You can sponsor Year 8 and help raise money for Power2Inspire here.

Emma Kenzie, Teacher of Geography, said “Games2Inspire provided a valuable opportunity for pupils to experience inclusive sport first-hand, and it was fantastic to see pupils so engaged and embracing the challenges of the day with such enthusiasm.”

Year 8 pupils gained a valuable understanding of inclusion, recognising that ability takes many forms and that everyone has something to contribute. Thank you to Power2Inspire for such a fantastic day.