A PRIMARY school sports competition backed by the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust moves to the next stage this week with a netball tournament.

Pupils from Years five and six are invited to take part in the Primary MegaMAT Games first indoor netball event, which will be held at Chetwynde School and Barrow Sixth Form College.

The event, starting on January 20th and running for three consecutive weeks, follows the success of the cross country competition in November which saw nearly 150 runners compete.

Organiser Katy Costa, who is the Head of Key Stage two at Chetwynde, said points will be accumulated for each of the events coming up with a winner declared in the summer.

“We were absolutely delighted with the turnout for the first of our Primary MegaMAT Games event with 13 schools taking part and the feedback from teachers about how much the children had enjoyed getting out onto our sports fields and competing was fantastic.

“We are committed to encouraging a healthy lifestyle through sport and wellbeing and you could see just how much the pupils loved getting involved and racing against each other.”

The Primary MegaMAT Games is a full calendar of multi-sports competitions including hockey, netball, swimming and a host of other sports. It is organised by Chetwynde, which joined the Furness College-led SCMAT in September last year.

Schools signed up for the netball tournament so far include Lindal and Marton, Chetwynde, Dane Ghyll, St Mary’s Ulverston, Holy Family, Yarlside, Parkside, St Columba’s, Newbarns, Our Lady’s Dalton, Ireleth St Peters and St Pius.

Winners will be presented with their prizes by Chetwynde Headteacher Steve Jefferson and representatives of the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

Executive Head Teacher and CEO of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust Professor Andrew Wren said: “It is great to see so many pupils getting involved in the MegaMAT games and building skills including confidence, leadership and teamwork through sport.

“As a multi-academy trust, we support pupils’ ambitions to be the best they can and we’re pleased to back this event that celebrates their success and achievement.”