St Jude’s C of E Primary School in Portsmouth has been named the Premier League Primary Stars December Spotlight School, celebrating the positive impact of the programme during the Autumn 2 term.

Throughout the term, St Jude’s used sport and physical activity to enhance learning, engagement, and confidence across the school. A key focus was supporting Year 2 teachers with PE delivery, helping staff build confidence and develop engaging lessons that motivate and inspire pupils.

Alongside PE support, the school delivered targeted English interventions using the power of football to encourage children to read. By linking literacy with pupils’ interests, these sessions increased engagement and enjoyment in English.

St Jude’s also launched a girls’ football after-school club, providing an inclusive opportunity for girls to get involved in the sport. The sessions have been extremely popular, with many girls attending regularly and several showing interest in wanting to progress to local football teams. Due to the success of the club, the school is planning to continue the sessions next term.

As a result of these initiatives, teachers have grown in confidence and are now even better equipped to manage, engage, and motivate pupils. Children have shown increased participation across both PE and English, supporting their academic progress as well as their social development.

Premier League Primary Stars Joint Coordinator, Patrice Link, praised the school’s achievements, highlighting the dedication of staff, the enthusiasm of pupils, and the positive impact of initiatives such as the English interventions and girls’ football programme.

St Jude’s C of E Primary School is a strong example of how the Premier League Primary Stars programme can create meaningful and lasting impact, and we are looking forward to building on this success in the coming term.