The start of the school year has also seen us polishing the trophy cabinet after scooping not one, but two major awards – the OPAL Play Silver Award and the Modeshift STARS Platinum Award.

The OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme encourages schools to transform playtimes by giving children more freedom, creativity and choice in how they play. Achieving the Silver Award recognises Totley Primary School’s long-term commitment to creating exciting and inclusive play opportunities that support pupils’ well-being, confidence and social skills.

Alongside this, Totley Primary has earned the Modeshift STARS Platinum Award – the highest accolade in the national school travel scheme. This award celebrates the school’s sustained efforts to promote safe, active and environmentally friendly travel – which is evidenced by the large number of children who walk, cycle or scoot to school and which we monitor through our ‘travel tracker’.

Headteacher Ben Paxman said: “We’re thrilled with these awards – although the real winners are the children, who now enjoy playtimes which are better than ever and healthier ways of getting to school.”