Accreditations & Recognition for PE, school sport and physical activity (PESSPA)

Accreditations & Recognition for PE, school sport and physical activity (PESSPA)

Active Surrey can support all schools to achieve accreditations (across all Key Stages) that promote the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of pupils. Schemes include self-evaluation of PE, school sport and physical activity provision which provide clear action plans to demonstrate progression and impact. 

star mark logo

Star Mark

Star Mark is an accreditation scheme for Key Stage 1 schools that helps them improve and gain recognition for their achievements in PE, school sport and physical activity.

Renewed retrospectively each year, the scheme is similar to the KS2 School Games Mark. It's best used as a tool to enhance daily activity provision and can form part of a whole-school improvement plan. It can be used to showcase your commitment to pupil wellbeing in promotional material.

The application window for entries which demonstrate your school's performance over 2024-25 will open on Thursday 1 May and closes on Friday 25 July 2025, with entries submitted via the Star Mark application link. Ahead of your submission you can capture your performance as it happens now, using Word versions of the documentation: Application Form and Supporting Documents

The initial cost is £155 for Active School Members (£195 for non-members), with renewal charges for subsequent years currently £95 (non-members £115). 

School Games Mark (KS2–5)

School Games Mark (KS2–5)

The focus for School Games Mark 2024/25 remains constant and continues to be positioned as a tool aimed at helping schools effectively reflect on their engagement in the School Games. The award is centred around the principles of the School Games outcomes and schools will need to demonstrate their engagement with their local School Games Organiser. This will be done through the levels of bronze, silver, gold and platinum.

The purpose of School Games Mark: to reward and recognise a school’s engagement (provision and uptake) in the School Games against a national benchmark and to celebrate keeping young people active.

The outcomes of School Games Mark and the School Games are linked. Schools will need to demonstrate how they are/have;

  1. Maintaining and growing your school’s engagement in the School Games and your delivery of the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) 60 active minutes for every child or 20 minutes for SEND young people. Ensured physical activity and competition (if relevant) has a clear intent and is designed to reflect the motivation, competence and confidence of your pupils

  2. Delivering and engaging in competitions that has clear intent and creates positive experiences based on the motivation, competence and confidence of your young people that need support most. Created positive experiences that support the character development of your young people

  3. A clear focus on transition points (e.g. Yr.3 and Yr.6/7 as well as those in three tier systems) and how secondary schools are engaging in the School Games.

  4. Supporting the personal development of targeted young people through youth engagement and leadership.

  5. Advocating and engaging key stakeholders on the value of the School Games to support local provision and improve the experiences for your young people and their families

How to apply

Your school can apply using the dashboard at www.yourschoolgames.com for the academic year 2024-25 from Wednesday 30 April – Wednesday 30 July 2025. 

To help you review your provision before applying please use the School Games Mark 2024/25 criteria. To contact your Active Schools Officer please email via active.schools@surreycc.gov.uk 

Contact your Active Schools Officer

For more information visit the Your School Games website. You can also email us at active.schools@surreycc.gov.uk.

Surrey Healthy Schools

Surrey Healthy Schools

Surrey Healthy Schools works across the Local Authority and takes a whole system approach towards the positive promotion of wellbeing, mental & physical health and achievement. It applies evidence and research to a range of themes and standards in order to assist schools in self-evaluating their practice.

Surrey Healthy Schools aims to empower schools (maintained, academy and independent schools that support infant, junior and secondary aged pupils) to identify strengths and areas for development. It provides opportunities for training and effective communication from across the Local Authority and wider. The Surrey Healthy Schools Self-Evaluation Tool has been developed to assist schools in implementing, identifying and developing effective practice.

The Surrey Healthy Schools approach applies evidenced based practice promoting positive physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing, and identifies 5 key themes:

  1. Whole School Approach towards the Promotion of Positive Health and Wellbeing
  2. Personal, Health, Social, Economics, Education (PSHE) Curriculum (including health and wellbeing, relationships, sex, drug, staying safe and financial capability education)
  3. Healthy eating (including cooking and health eating in the curriculum, food provision - school meals, packed lunches, pre and post school club food provision and cooking clubs)
  4. Physical activity (including physical education and school sport - PESSPA)
  5. Emotional wellbeing and mental health

You can find more comprehensive information on how to develop a Surrey Healthy Schools approach on the Healthy Surrey website.