South Bradford’s answer to Strictly Come Dancing raised the roof again this year, forming another run away success for Bradford’s young people.

All schools who took part received 6 weeks’ expert tuition to learn 4 ballroom competition dances – as well as the show-finishing dance the electric slide.

120 pupils stormed the dance floor, dance partners by their sides and numbers on their backs, to put on a dazzling display.

Held at Tong High School, the young people thrilled a theatre packed with parents from all participating schools.

Cha Cha Cha, Tango and the Jive were just some of the dances on display at the competition, which required young people to dance in pairs.

Despite initial reluctance from the majority, the dance tuition challenged the young people to push their boundaries to dance in mixed partners..

“The competition demonstrates the progress young people can have with positive encouragement. At the beginning, some of the young people refused to touch each other – and look at them now. A fantastic confidence building opportunity, as well as fantastic competition.”
Claire Caunce, Partnership Development Manager for South Bradford School Sport Partnership

As the young couples danced, teachers cheered from the sides in their ballroom dressed and smart suits.

Tong High School’s new Headteacher, Mr Stephen Curran was amongst the judges faced with the arduous task of deciding the winners.

After fierce deliberation, St Columbas were announced as the overall winners of an excellent night of ballroom dancing.

Well done and thank you to everyone who took part, and we hope to see you at Tong again in the very near future.

By Laura Dawson
Sports College & South Bradford SSP Administrator

A series of cheerleading events for over 1700 young girls from around South Bradford may be the last of its kind to run in the city – due to the government’s axe of the School Sport Partnership (SSP) funding.

The ‘Pom Cheer’ event, organised by South Bradford SSP, has been running in the district for 3 years, welcoming girls from all ethnic groups to enjoy the spectacular cheerleading event.

Being run this year by Hot Ice Cheer and Dance Academy, the competition gives the girls the chance to show their own choreographed routines as well as learning routines such as the much-loved ‘Peanut Butter Jelly’ on the day.

“The Pom Cheer event is a particularly special event for us as it allows young girls from all ethnic groups to come together at this one event. As you can see, the girls really raise the roof!”

Sarah Bouskill, Competition Manager

In the governments’ recent Comprehensive Spending review, the 15% budget cut to the Department of Education will hit school sport the hardest – leaving the system that created 450 SSPs across the country facing the chop.

“These cuts will be simply devastating for the progression of grassroots sport and the opportunities that are currently available for our young people. These opportunities will simply not exist without the fantastic SSP teams across the city, who really care about the futures, and health, of Bradford’s young people.”
Claire Caunce, Partnership Development Manager for South Bradford SSP

The South Bradford School Sport Partnership brings together schools across South Bradford to develop Physical Education and sport opportunities for young people. The 2009/2010 annual PESSYP survey showed that 68% of young people in South Bradford participate in at least three hours of PE and school sport.

The survey also showed that 71% of the 14,118 young people also participated in High Quality inter school competition, such as the recent Pom Cheer events.

“The range of competitions we offer the young people is simply unrivalled. It is devastating to think that competitions such as Pom Cheer, which all have exit routes into clubs, will not exist next year.”
Claire Caunce

By Laura Dawson
Sports College & South Bradford SSP Administrator