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County Ground hosts 'Brilliant Bristol' schools programme

26 January 2015

The Bristol County Ground is the setting for a new project aimed at raising the happiness levels among local school children.

More than 500 Year Five pupils from eight local primary schools visited the home of Gloucestershire Cricket for the first part of the six stage Brilliant Bristol programme.

Led by Spy Dog author and happiness expert Andy Cope, the children will be taught about the powers of positive psychology, happiness and flourishing. The pupils will then design and deliver their own positive curriculum with the aim of taking their messages across their school, home and community.

Andy said: “Good grades are important. But it’s equally important for our schools to turn out well-rounded young people, so we’re intending to focus on confidence, happiness, resilience and personal responsibility. Our belief is that when children feel great they learn more effectively.

“The County Ground is a jaw-dropping venue and it definitely helps to convey our message of inspiring the children to be brilliant.”

The workshops are based on cutting edge theory but will be delivered in a fun and practical way. It is hoped that professional players from Gloucestershire will attend day three of the project in March.

Laurence Pitt, executive headteacher of the Ashley Down Schools Federation said: “It’s about aspiration – if you have the right attitude the world is your oyster.

“The sporting link is also very important, as it is something the kids can relate to. We want them to be inspired to be the best that they can be and professional sport is a good way to highlight that.

“We hope some of the players from Gloucestershire will come along and we already have world kick boxing champion Sharon Gill coming to talk to the children. They won’t all be world champions but we want them to apply that world champion mentality to everything that they do.”

Schools involved in the Brilliant Bristol project:

Victoria Park

Ashley Down

Bridge Farm

Henbury Court

Little Mead

Westbury-on-Trym C of E

Horfield

Whitehall

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