Hackney Personal Bests
"The Personal Bests sports programme is a brilliant initiative. Its design means those negative associations with PE lessons are removed. Young people are inspired to be the best they can be, instead of comparing themselves to others. It was great to be at the finals."
Christine Ohuruogu, Olympic 400m champion
Personal Bests is Hackney's established sport and healthy lifestyles programme aimed at 9-11 year-olds. It is currently running in more than 40 primary schools, including faith schools and special schools, and involves 2,000 children. It is fully inclusive, as the children compete against themselves to achieve their own personal bests in a range of sports: long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, javelin, speed bounce and the Paralympic sport of boccia.
The five-step programme is designed to be completed in about 12 weeks, culminating in a borough finals where the six most improved boys and girls will represent their school. Most of those competing in the borough finals have not represented their school before. Specialist coaches provide training in technique and record progress and Hackney's Paralympic Medallist and 2012 Ambassador, Dervis Konuralp, pays a motivational visit to each school and gives out medals at the school finals.
All pupils receive a Hackney Personal Bests workbook which includes health messages, a personal lifestyle diary, information about the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and a record of their own Personal Bests performances.
Download the Personal Bests booklet (PDF, 1.6MB)
View a short video about Personal Bests
View a long video about Personal Bests
Page updated: 29 Jun 2011