At Gloucester School Sport Network (GSSN), we believe every child deserves the opportunity to experience the benefits of PE, sport and physical activity, regardless of their needs, abilities or challenges.

Our SEND and inclusion programme combines specialist curriculum support in schools, SEND-specific training for teachers and inclusive sporting events. Working with schools and specialist partners, we aim to remove barriers, build confidence and help every child find their place in sport.

Specialist SEND curriculum support

Supporting pupils. Empowering schools. Improving access to PE.

Our highly skilled team of specialist teachers delivers high-quality curriculum support sessions in schools, helping pupils with SEND access PE, develop physical skills and experience success.

We work with schools to support meaningful participation, recognising individual needs and identifying practical ways to make PE accessible, engaging and appropriately challenging.

SEND and inclusive PE training – Helping teachers include every child in mainstream PE.

We provide SEND-specific training to help teachers and school staff develop the confidence, knowledge and practical skills to include pupils with additional needs in mainstream PE lessons.

Our training explores ways to adapt activities, modify equipment, differentiate tasks and remove barriers to participation, helping schools embed inclusive practice into everyday PE.

Our aim is to ensure that pupils with SEND are not simply present in PE lessons, but genuinely included in the learning, enjoyment and achievement.

Our SEND sporting events

Alongside our school-based support and training, GSSN delivers a programme of SEND sporting festivals and competitions, giving pupils opportunities to try new activities, represent their schools and celebrate their achievements.

1. SEND Festival of Sport

A celebration of inclusive sport, offering pupils opportunities to try different activities, develop skills and enjoy being active alongside their peers.

2. SEND KS2 Table Cricket

In association with Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation

An adapted version of cricket that encourages Key Stage 2 pupils to develop batting, bowling, tactical thinking and teamwork in an inclusive competitive environment.

3. SEND Panathlon Athletics Festival

In partnership with the Panathlon Foundation

An inclusive athletics festival where pupils can develop their skills, challenge themselves and experience the excitement of representing their schools.

4. SEND Panathlon Challenge

In partnership with the Panathlon Foundation

A multi-sport event providing opportunities for pupils with different abilities to try adapted activities, develop teamwork and enjoy friendly competition.

5. SEND Panathlon Ten-Pin Bowling

In partnership with the Panathlon Foundation

An engaging bowling competition where pupils can represent their schools, develop confidence and celebrate participation and achievement.

6. SEND Panathlon Swimming Gala

In partnership with the Panathlon Foundation

A swimming competition that promotes participation, confidence and teamwork, with the opportunity for pupils to represent Gloucester at the National Finals in London.

7. SEND Golf Festival

In partnership with Hartpury Golf and The Golf Foundation

An opportunity for pupils to discover golf, develop new skills and experience an inclusive sport they might not otherwise have the chance to try.

Inclusion beyond SEND

8. EAL & Low-Confidence Orienteering Festival at Robinswood Hill

Our orienteering festival supports pupils learning English as an additional language (EAL) and those who lack confidence in traditional sporting environments. Through outdoor navigation, teamwork and problem-solving, pupils can build confidence, develop communication skills and enjoy being active in a supportive setting.

Working together to make sport inclusive

Through our specialist teaching team, school-based support, teacher training and partnerships with organisations including the Panathlon Foundation, Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, Hartpury Golf and The Golf Foundation, we are creating more opportunities for children to participate in sport.

We believe inclusion should be part of everyday school life, as well as something celebrated through special events.

Would your school like to get involved?

Contact GSSN to find out more about our SEND curriculum support, inclusive PE training and sporting events.

Every child. Every ability. Every opportunity.

Gloucester School Sport Network — helping every child find their place in sport.

Two fantastic days of inclusive school sport for our GSSN schools!

🎳 SEND Panathlon Bowling – 13 October

We welcomed SEND primary pupils for our KS1 and KS2 Panathlon Tenpin Bowling sessions at Tenpin Centre Severn, Barnwood. The sessions provided a fun, supportive and inclusive opportunity for children to represent their schools, develop confidence and enjoy being active together.

Every competitor had the chance to take part, celebrate their achievements and enjoy the experience, with certificates and medals recognising their participation. 🏅👏

💪 Boys’ Team Building – 14 October

Following the success of our Girls’ Team Building event, it was the boys’ turn at Henley Bank High School! The morning was filled with teamwork, challenges, laughter and encouragement, helping the boys build confidence, develop communication skills and work together.

A huge thank you to Henley Bank and their fantastic student leaders for their enthusiasm, support and brilliant leadership across our team-building events. 🌟

At GSSN, we are proud to provide opportunities for all children to participate, build friendships and experience the benefits of school sport.

Sport is for everyone!

The first week of October brought more brilliant opportunities for our local primary schools to get active, develop skills and enjoy competing together!

🏐 Year 3/4 Benchball Tournament – 1 October

Eight primary school teams came together at Longford Park Primary Academy for an exciting afternoon of Benchball! A huge thank you to the fantastic Henley Bank Sport Leaders, who demonstrated brilliant umpiring, coaching and leadership skills throughout the event. 👏

🏓 Primary Table Tennis Tournament – 7 October

We headed to Upton C of E Primary School for a fun and competitive table tennis tournament. Teams of two boys and two girls took part in a series of team and individual challenges, showcasing some great skills, teamwork and sporting spirit!

🏆 Congratulations to our winners and well done to everyone who took part!

A big thank you to our host schools, student leaders and all the staff who help make these opportunities possible for our young people.

The first week of October got off to a brilliant start for GSSN, with two fantastic events giving primary school children the opportunity to get active, build confidence and enjoy sport together.

⚽ The FA Shooting Stars Football Festival – 29 September

We welcomed our Year 1 and 2 pupils to Ribston Hall High School for The FA Shooting Stars Football Festival. The event celebrated the joy of football, giving young girls the chance to develop their skills, try new activities and enjoy being active in a fun and inclusive environment.

🌟 Girls’ Team Building Event – 30 September

The following morning, Henley Bank High School hosted our Girls’ Team Building Event, bringing girls together for a morning of teamwork, challenges and shared experiences. With fantastic support from Henley Bank’s student leaders, the girls worked together, encouraged one another and developed their confidence through a range of engaging activities.

Thank You to Our School Sport Community

A huge thank you to Ribston Hall High School and Henley Bank High School, particularly their fantastic student leaders, for helping to make these events so successful.

Providing opportunities for children to participate, develop new skills, build friendships and create positive memories is at the heart of GSSN school sport.

Well done to everyone who took part! We look forward to another exciting year of opportunities for our schools and young people.

The future of PE and school sport is changing – and we are excited about what this could mean for schools and children across Gloucester.

The Government has announced a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, which will provide a new national approach to supporting PE, school sport and physical activity in schools.

The new network is expected to be operational from Spring 2027 and is backed by £580 million of Government funding over three years. This is a significant investment in the future of school sport and represents a clear recognition of the important role that PE, sport and physical activity play in children’s health, confidence, wellbeing and development.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR GSSN?

For GSSN, this is an opportunity to build on the strong foundations that have been developed over many years.

Our work has always been about partnership – bringing schools together, creating opportunities for children and supporting schools to provide experiences that may not be possible to deliver individually.

Through GSSN, schools have access to competitions, festivals, SEND opportunities, leadership programmes, professional development and a wide range of sporting experiences.

These relationships, experiences and expertise provide a strong foundation as we look towards the next chapter of school sport in Gloucester.

EXPLORING THE NEW PARTNERSHIP MODEL

As the national programme develops, we are actively exploring how GSSN could transition into and contribute to the new partnership model.

The Government’s plans place a strong emphasis on collaboration between schools, local sporting organisations, clubs and National Governing Bodies. The aim is to create stronger local partnerships and more consistent opportunities for children to take part in PE, sport and physical activity.

This direction is closely aligned with the way GSSN has operated for many years.

We are therefore approaching this period of change positively, with a clear ambition to build on what already works and ensure that the needs of Gloucester schools remain at the heart of our future.

WHAT WILL REMAIN IMPORTANT?

While the national structure may change, our commitment to children and schools will remain at the centre of what we do.

Our ambition is to continue providing opportunities for children to:

• Take part in high-quality competitions and festivals

• Experience a wide range of sports and physical activities

• Develop confidence, teamwork and leadership skills

• Access inclusive and meaningful SEND opportunities

• Represent their schools and celebrate their achievements

• Develop a positive and lifelong relationship with physical activity

• Benefit from strong links between schools, teachers and sporting partners

A POSITIVE FUTURE FOR SCHOOL SPORT

We recognise that any change to a national funding and delivery model naturally brings questions.

There is still further detail to be confirmed about how the new Partnerships Network will operate locally. However, the direction from Government is clear: PE, school sport and physical activity are being given renewed national importance, with significant investment and a strong focus on local partnership working.

For GSSN, this represents an opportunity rather than an ending.

We are proud of what has been achieved alongside schools and partners across Gloucester, and we are committed to working positively with schools and partners as the new national approach develops.

Our ambition is simple:

To continue creating high-quality, inclusive and accessible opportunities for children across Gloucester – now and for many years to come.

LOOKING AHEAD

As more information becomes available, we will keep our schools informed about what the changes mean locally.

We will continue to listen to our schools, work with our partners and ensure that the strengths of our existing network are carried forward into the future.

The structure may evolve.

The opportunities may grow.

But our purpose remains the same:

Bringing schools together. Creating opportunities. Inspiring children through sport.

THE FUTURE OF SCHOOL SPORT IN GLOUCESTER IS ONE WE ARE EXCITED TO BUILD TOGETHER.