SPORTS teams at Ovingham Middle School have achieved “well and truly above and beyond expectations.”

That’s the verdict of head of PE Deborah Goodwin, who has helped pupils to excel at football, rugby and hockey during the current academic year.

Ovingham’s Year 5/6, and Year 7/8 girls’ football teams will represent the West Tyne area at next summer’s county wide School Games tournament in Cramlington.

Both teams won all five of their respective qualifying matches, and didn’t concede a single goal between them.

It’s not the only success the girls’ teams have enjoyed this season. They were both victorious at a West Tyne area tournament at Prudhoe’s Highfield Middle School three weeks ago.

In addition, the Year 5/6 team took part in recent a county competition at Longbenton, where they won all their matches and qualified for regional finals, which take place either Manchester or Sheffield.

Girl footballers at Ovingham Middle have also reached the semi-final of an U11 cup, after beating a team from Gosforth 7-0 in the quarter-finals.

The school’s Y5 and Y6 mixed hockey teams won all of their respective qualifying matches for next year’s Summer Games.

In rugby, Ovingham entered two mixed Year 5 and Year 6 teams in the Summer Games qualifiers. Ovingham A finished first in their qualifying group, while Ovingham B were second.

But with each school allowed to enter just one team in the finals, the winning team, Ovingham A, will progress into the finals.

Mrs Goodwin said: “Our teams have achieved well and truly above and beyond expectations. They are often competing against bigger schools and have done really well.

“We often have between 50 and 100 pupils practicing their sport at lunchtimes, and the hard work really is paying off. We had 80 pupils at the Summer Games this year, and we should have more next year.”

Mrs Goodwin praised the role of teacher Danny Driver for his contribution to the success of the girls’ football teams.

Ovingham Middle will also attempt to qualify for the Summer Games in volleyball, athletics and handball, among other sports.