A HARLOW primary school has been recognised with a prestigious physical education award.

Pear Tree Mead Primary Academy has been give the Association for Physical Education (AfPE Quality Mark) distinction. This award is an extremely prestigious award that evidences the strengths and quality of Physical Education, School Sport and Physical activity in the school.

It raises the profile of the subject and the school, both locally and nationally and promotes the outstanding work that is being undertaken on a daily basis.

This quality mark is an externally assessed evaluation process that involves a school visit by one of the afPE’s validation team of highly qualified school improvement professionals.

The association awarded distinction to the school for ‘demonstrating outstanding commitment to improvement in Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity.’

Pear Tree Mead the first school in Harlow to be awarded with this and one of the only ones in Essex.

Headteacher, Christine Peden said: ‘I am so proud of the staff and children at PTM for their hard work and dedication towards PE. Receiving this award is a way of being recognised and showing that the children’s physical health is just as important as their academic.’

PE leads, Jennie Warner and Kim McCombie added: ‘We both really enjoy being PE leads at Pear Tree Mead Academy and are glad to be part of a school that recognises the importance of children leading a healthy lifestyle.

“The quality mark was a great tool for self evaluation and had been extremely helpful for us to decide out next steps for improvement. We are extremely proud to have been rewarded with this!’