A middle school has received the highest national award available in PE.

Greneway Middle School has received the Association for Physical Education’s quality mark with distinction, which recognises the high level of sports provision available at the school, in Garden Walk.

Jan Wood MBE, head of the North East Herts Sports Partnership, presented the award at Greneway’s athletics festival evening last week.

Terry Graves, Greneway’s leader of P.E. and assistant head teacher, said: “This prestigious award - at ‘Distinction’ level - is the result of consistently outstanding teamwork at Greneway and beyond over many years.

“It is also further testimony to the continued importance physical education and school sport plays as part of our broad and balanced curriculum that helps develop the whole child.”

Schools that receive the award have to play their part promoting the importance of PE in their communities, as well achieving success on the field. Greneway can boast highly successful teams in many sports, including basketball and athletics. Last December the school was named runner-up in the school of the year category at the 2013 Herts Sports Partnership awards.

Miss Wood said: “This is a richly deserved award and I am delighted to award it the Greneway All of our young people are entitled to benefit from a high quality physical education and we all know that this supports other learning right across the curriculum.

“It also contributes to healthy and active lifestyles, improves emotional well-being, and develops key skills such as leadership, confidence and social skills.”

The school’s headteacher, Laura Rawlings, added: ““This is a fantastic, national achievement for team Greneway, our many partners and Royston, recognising and celebrating the importance of physical education and school sport and reinforcing our PE legacy”.