On Tuesday 6th October 2009, Head of PE Mr Neil Thomas, Head Boy Vikram Devalia and Year 11 pupil Bethan Moorcraft travelled to Stamford Bridge in London to attend the prestigious National School Sports Awards 2009.

Hosted by Aviva and the Daily Telegraph, the awards ceremony is designed to recognise excellence and hard work in Physical Education. The venue for this year’s event was the home of premiere league football team Chelsea FC.

Cowbridge Comprehensive School had been shortlisted from hundreds of entrants in the ‘State School Of The Year’ category.

Guests of this years event included Double Olympic Gold Medallist James Cracknell, Olympic Gold Medallist Sally Gunnell and Marlon Devonish, Iwan Thomas, Brian Moore, Roger Uttley, Jenny Meadows, Anna Hemmings, Alan Pascoe, David Weir and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson. The main presentation was hosted by Double Olympic Gold Medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.

Following a tour of Stamford Bridge (where a hospitality box for 10 seasons will cost you 2.5 million pounds) the school representatives were invited to a drinks reception and lunch with the star guests.

With Sky Sports cameras filming the Awards, Dame Kelly Holmes announced the winner of the Male Award, Olympic diver Tom Daley of Plymouth College. The female award went to Rebecca James while Millfield won Independent School of the Year.

Cowbridge Comprehensive School finished in third place in the Best State School in the UK Award. On accepting the award, Head of PE Mr Neil Thomas acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the Physical Education Department at the school. He also highlighted the support given by the school parents, school staff, caretakers, cleaners, office staff and dinner ladies as being a vital and integral part of the success. He concluded by suggesting that the key factor was that Cowbridge Comprehensive School is fortunate to have such talented, dedicated and enthusiastic pupils. This was the first time that a Welsh Comprehensive School has been recognised at the National Awards. It is an honour that the department, pupils, school and community respectively are extremely proud of.