The Ferns Primary Academy first joined the Farnworth Cluster Events back in summer 2019, where they competed in the athletics competition – a track and field event organised by Kearsley West and attended by ten local primary schools. Although sport and fitness have always been a key element at The Ferns, they had never had the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and compete against other schools and this was put on hold further by lockdown.

This year, with restrictions lifted, The Ferns were able to finally showcase their talents. As the Y5 and Y6 students waited patiently in their pristine team kits for the events to start, apprehension and excitement pumped through their veins. It was what they had been waiting for, for nearly two years.

The team played brilliantly together in a range of sporting events. During football they demonstrated all the skills they had learned from the after-school football club, run by Miss Wilkinson and Rees Sports. Gliding their way into the final, they sadly lost in the last 5 minutes due to an amazing goal from Queensbridge. However, like true Ferns they picked themselves up, resilience kicked in and the team went on to win many more events hosted by the various schools in the Farnworth Cluster, including bench ball, multi-skills, rounders, even their Y1 and Y2 footballers won their tournament too.

These wins, plus the individual medals won from their track, field and cross-country athletic events, showed how their true grit, determination and resilience paid off. The Ferns won the overall Farnworth Cluster Sports Award for 2021/2022 and it was well worth the wait.