The end of the school year heralds the end of a ground breaking year for the Discovery SharkSmart programme, with a new record fifteen schools securing accreditation as Schools of Excellence.

After successfully meeting the eight fair play and injury prevention related criteria Michaelhouse, Treverton College, Voortrekker, Weston Agricultural and Westville Boys’ High added their names to the already ten-long list shortly before their staff and pupils turned their attention towards the all-important end of year exams.

“Discovery SharkSmart has been going for nine years now and without a doubt 2011 has been our most successful year to date,” said Dr Glen Hagemann, Director of Discovery SharkSmart.

“Last year nine schools were successfully accredited and to have seen this figure grow by such an extent underscores the value and impact that this programme has on the lives of learners at the high schools involved – both on and off the sports field,” he added.

Creating an awareness of the importance of a healthy diet, the dangers of steroid use and sound concussion management were areas of particular focus throughout the year and were well received by both the pupils and staff of the participating schools.

The Discovery SharkSmart programme tackles numerous sport related issues, encouraging pupils to “Play Safe, Play Fair”, handling topics commonly overlooked in the busy and constantly evolving school sport environment.

“School sport isn’t what it was ten or fifteen years ago. Our children and their coaches are faced with very different challenges these days,” said Hagemann.

Hagemann added that the schools participating have all committed to a ground-breaking policy to start testing their pupils for steroid use in 2012 and although steroid testing amongst minors can be a complex process, Discovery SharkSmart already has and will continue to assist schools in navigating this minefield."

“Through the Discovery SharkSmart Schools of Excellence programme we aim to provide each school with useful, easy to understand information on how to achieve their sporting goals in a safe and fair manner,” he added.

The fifteen schools accredited as a 2011 Discovery SharkSmart School of Excellence are DHS, Clifton College, Crawford College La Lucia, Glenwood High, Hillcrest High, Kearsney College, Kingsway High, Maritzburg College, Michaelhouse, Port Natal, St Charles College, Treverton College, Voortrekker, Weston Agricultural College and Westville Boys’ High.