Huw Merriman, MP for Heathfield, visited Cross in Hand CE Primary School last Friday, on their annual Sports Day, to celebrate the importance of PE and school sport to young people’s wellbeing.

Huw’s visit coincided with National School Sport Week 2019 which is co-ordinated by the children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust to highlight the important role of Physical Education and school sport in education.

It comes at a time when national research shows that fewer than one in five young people are active for 60 minutes every day and thousands of hours of PE have been lost since 2012.

Huw said: “It has been fantastic to visit Cross in Hand School on their Sports Day and during National School Sport Week and see first-hand what a crucial role Physical Education and school sport are playing for pupils in the school.

“Taking part in school sport and a good quality physical education not only gives young people the best chance of leading healthy, active lifestyles, but can also bring huge benefits in improving wellbeing, concentration and developing character and life skills.  It is so important that every young person gets these opportunities and pupils at Cross in Hand are especially lucky to have swimming lessons in their own pool.”

Mary Williams-Finch, Deputy Headteacher, said:  “At Cross in Hand School we believe it is very important that every pupil has the opportunity to lead active, healthy lifestyles. We’re delighted that Huw visited today to see first-hand the great work we are doing to promote PE and school sport across the school. We are fortunate to be one of the few remaining schools in the area with a swimming pool and our pupils love the opportunity it gives them to learn to swim during their school day.”