Prestatyn High School pupils take part in Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week

School children from Prestatyn High have today marked this year's Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week - 27 June to 1 July -  by celebrating the build up to the London 2012 Games, with them setting their own Personal Bests in a number of Olympic or Paralympic sports.

Pupils at Prestatyn High School have joined nearly five million young people in taking part in Britain's biggest ever school sport event.

Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week uses the excitement of the London 2012 Games to inspire young people to do more sport. The initiative, run in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, is part of the London 2012 Get Set+ education programme.  Today's event saw pupils achieve Personal Bests in a one mile Olympic themed run or walk and a series of Olympic challenges, including designing their own Olympic mascots. The day has been planned by the team of Young Ambassadors at Prestatyn High School, who have worked with the 5x60 Officer, PE department and school staff to organise such a fantastic celebration of school sport.

Welsh Olympic medallist and former World Champion 400metre runner, Jamie Baulch, was quick out of the blocks to deliver an inspirational assembly before putting pupils through their paces with a series of fitness challenges. Professional mountain biker, Grant "Chopper" Fielder, also jumped into action to give a display of his daredevil skills. Meanwhile local community clubs gave pupils the chance to try out try out new sports in a series of taster sessions. 

John Ellis, 5x60 Officer at Prestatyn High School said: "We are delighted to hold this celebration of sport. The day involved nearly 1,000 students from the Prestatyn area who all had an opportunity to sample a wide range of Olympic sports workshops and a chance to get involved in the exciting build-up to the Olympic Games, one of the world's largest and greatest events."

"The idea of setting and achieving Personal Bests is one which challenges pupils to reach and surpass goals, both as individuals, and as part of a team.  We are hoping that this will motivate them to raise the bar even higher and inspire them to achieve new sporting and academic goals whilst they are still at school."

With London 2012 fast approaching, research carried out by Lloyds TSB* reveals that one in four (25%) British parents are worried that their children aren't active enough.  The same survey also found at 81% of parents think that sport can play an active role in their child's development, so parents are being encouraged to get behind National School Sport Week and pledge their support for their child taking part in the week. 

Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said: "Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week gets bigger every year, with more young people being encouraged, inspired and motivated to take up sport and be the best they can be. This is what our London 2012 legacy vision is all about."

Parents of school pupils taking part in National School Sport Week can pledge their support to their child's school at www.lloydstsb.com/nationalschoolsportweek.

Schools that reach the minimum level of support will be in with a chance of winning tickets to London 2012 or the chance to carry the Olympic Flame in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.