OSWESTRY School is celebrating after achieving a sought-after sports award.

The Upper Brook Street school and its junior school, Bellan House, based in Church Street, have achieved the School Games Gold Mark Award for the 2018/2019 academic year.

The School Games Mark is a Government led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust, to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and the school is delighted to have been recognised for their success.

“With so many young people competing in local inter-school competitions this year, we are is extremely proud of our pupils for their dedication to all aspects of school sport," said Dominic Bradburne, director of sport. "Including those young volunteers, leaders and officials who made our competitions possible.

"As part of our application, we were asked to fulfil criteria in the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs, and we are pleased that the hard work of everyone at our school has been rewarded this year.

"A special thanks must go to the PE Department who work tirelessly in Bellan House and Oswestry School.

"We look forward to applying once again in 2020!”

The school’s sporting achievements across this year have included; Ben Clarke and Charlie Dixon being selected for the English Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) representative teams; Dan Haycocks ranking fifth in the county for golf, by order of merit, with a closing handicap of three; and Sam Hughes competing in the Michelin Championship WOR Events X Country #Enduro Series – achieving five wins to take the overall Michelin Championship.

In skiing, the Under-16 girls team were crowned County Champions following the County Schools ski competition held in Telford.

Hockey successes included; Jessie Gittins, Marta Fernandez-Marco and Poppy Polden being selected for U13 Shropshire County Hockey; and Jessie celebrated again as she and sister Holly Gittins were scouted and selected to play for the U13's Shropshire County Cricket Development Squad.

Hannah Pritchard and Minty Wilton also had hockey success as they were selected for the U15 County Hockey Squad; and Henry Wilson, Zak Willer and Dan Counter were selected for the U16 Shropshire County Rugby Squad.

Meanwhile, Cato Pugsley was selected to represent Shropshire in the Years 7 and 8 UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championship; and Christian Hawkey won the U10 tennis County Tour and competed for Tennis Wales against Tennis Ireland in Cardiff.