PUPILS from a local primary school are celebrating after winning a countrywide award to help close the gender gap in sport.

Darton Primary won the Yorkshire Sport Foundation Award for innovation in school PE and sport for their work to help close the gap between boys and girls in confidence and performance in PE.

The award is part of the Yorkshire Primary PE Awards which will go to a regional final later this month.

The school worked alongside Barnsley-based school training company, Totally Runable, to address stereotypes in sport and to create workshops for pupils to enjoy.

Darton Primary headteacher Jo Lancett said: “It is so nice to have something like this to celebrate as a school.

“Like lots of schools we have had a challenging few months but our staff and pupils work so hard to create a positive, inclusive, and inspiring school atmosphere and it is great to have the opportunity to celebrate that, and recognise all of that hard work.”

Totally Runable director, Natalie Jackson, added: “Darton is a great example of a school that has been curious enough to think about what is going on with confidence levels between girls and boys and look deeper.

“It has been an absolute privilege to work with Darton over the last few years to help them become more aware of that gap and do some brilliant work on closing it. We’re so pleased that their work with us has been recognised in this way.”

The school will now progress to the final of the competition, and the winner will be announced on October 13.

Laithes Primary also picked up a South Yorkshire award, for creating a more active school, with the introduction of more activity into the school day and efforts to make children aware of the importance of their activity levels.