The Stockport SHAPES Alliance organises and delivers the School Games in Stockport, supporting schools and children, in recognising the vital importance of PE, school sport, and physical activity. Beyond the immediate health and wellbeing benefits, we champion the holistic development these opportunities provide throughout a young person’s journey through school and life. The following story demonstrates the power of these experiences and the transformative impact the School Games has had on one young girl in Stockport.
L’s start in life was defined by physical limitation. Due to early childhood neglect and a genetic condition, medical experts predicted at age three that she would never walk unaided. When she arrived at her Stockport primary school, she lacked the core strength and motor skills of her peers. However, through engaging with School Games activities, ranging from Motor Skills United sessions to Level 2 Netball competitions; L has rewritten her own narrative.
Now in Year 5, L is no longer a spectator; she is an active young person and a leader. While her physical progress is undeniable, she now practices “gymnastics everywhere”.
The most profound impact has been on her resilience. L attended the Stockport School Games Netball events with her School. The School Games provided a “safe-to-fail” environment where L learned that “passing to friends” and being part of a team was more important than the final score.
This sense of belonging has transformed her school life. L has begun to bridge the gap between School Games and the classroom, recognising that the “keep going” attitude she developed in Netball is the same energy she needs for her Maths lessons. Her newfound confidence recently saw her take on the role of “Narrator” in an English project; a lead role that would have been unthinkable in her earlier years.
Perhaps the most touching evidence of her growth is her work as a Young Leader. L now mentors younger children, motivated by the fact that she “used to be like them.” When asked what she would tell her younger self in Reception, her answer was simple but hard-earned: “Keep on trying because you will get better.” L is living proof that through inclusive sport, children can defy their own expectations.
