Gloucestershire School Games is the largest school sporting event to be held in Gloucestershire every year.

It is part of the national School Games initiative which aims to inspire more young people to take part in school sport.

Over 85% of Gloucestershire Primary, Secondary and Special Schools are participating in Gloucestershire's School Games. For the first time in its seven- year history, the School Games includes new initiatives such as orienteering and Inspired Forest School Training to provide opportunities for a greater range of children and young people.

Throughout the summer games, pupils compete in sports such as mountain biking, archery and orienteering. The “School Games Sports Village” also offers activities such as skipping, dancing, parachute games, play and zorb football.

Anna McNuff, celebrity endurance athlete was there to help launch the event, she said: “I think it’s fantastic. I think the first thing is that there are so many different activities on offer, so a child can come here who might not like perhaps the traditional sports...they’re definitely going to find something that they like”.

The emphasis on participation over competition has been instilled throughout the games. One third of the participants at the primary games will participate at this summer school games event for the first time. Also unique to this event, schools will be provided with a free pack of resources provided by Active Gloucestershire that will enable them to continue similar activities when they return to their schools.

McNuff added: “I think the values that we should be instilling in young people are first of all just to enjoy being outdoors. That doesn’t mean about going fast, it doesn’t mean about being the best. It just means about enjoying every single moment.”

This is the second year that Hartpury College has been in partnership with Active Gloucestershire. Over 100 Hartpury student volunteers have contributed to make the event possible.

Gloucestershire School Games is part of Active Gloucestershire’s Active Schools programme, kindly supported by Hartpury College, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning.