Longtown Primary School pupils develop their skills in the new Olympic sport of climbing

Longtown Primary School pupils had the opportunity to try this new Olympic sport in their PE lessons this term.

PE and Sports Premium funding was used for a block of five sessions to develop the pupils' skills using the National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS).

The programme has run as a partnership with Longtown Outdoor Learning Centre whose instructors have delivered the programme.

All the Class 3 pupils achieved the NICAS level 1 award.

At the school's celebration assembly pupils demonstrated key rock climbing skills to staff, parents and other pupils.

Mrs Reynolds the Class 3 teacher said "The children have loved the activity and have learned skills like knot tying and belaying as well as how to look after each other. We hope they will be able to put these skills to good use on our residential trip to the Gower."

Dean Roberts, Longtown OLC's rock climbing instructor said "The whole class worked really well together. They picked up the new skills very quickly and I could soon trust them to belay each other responsibly."

All the pupils will now have the opportunity to progress to local climbing clubs and to climb outdoors on Longtown OLC's holiday courses.

If you are interested in finding out about the climbing course or other courses in navigation or canoeing please contact Mike Fawcett, centre manager at Longtown Outdoor Learning Centre, on 01873 860225 longtownoutdoorlearning.co.uk