THEY are simply the best.

Pupils and staff at a Winchester secondary school are celebrating after winning a prestigious Sportsmark Gold Award.

Kings’ School in among only 89 schools nationally to receive the top award from the Sainsbury’s school games kite mark scheme in 2013.

The Romsey Road school, which had silver last year, had to demonstrate not only that it embraced sports and PE in the timetable but it also ran a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and took part in fixtures against other schools.

The large comprehensive, which has more 30 extra-curricular activities in any one week, also runs “b” and “c” sides in a range of sports to give more youngsters a chance to play on the school team.

In addition, Kings’ offers sports for its physically disabled pupils, including wheelchair basketball, bocia and New Age kurling clubs which able-bodied pupils are also encouraged to join. The school teams have had great success with the wheelchair basketball team getting to the national finals.

Kings’ also had to show it encouraged volunteering and leadership among pupils. Talented athletes Harry Talks and Hannah Birth attended the Sainsbury’s National Sports Games in Sheffield earlier this year. The pair where the only two selected from Hampshire as part of a national talent inspiration programme for pupils who are both performers and role models.

Now the school has also looked at ways it can encourage less sporty pupils to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle.

PE teacher Stuart Simpson said: “At King’s we pride ourselves on the traditional sports that we run and that have shaped the schools sporting ethos and history.

“However, we also understand the need to attract all young people to recreational physical activities and as a result now run clubs such as Zumba, intensive fitness workouts, trampoline and health suites.”

Head teacher Matthew Lemming, who joined the school in September, said: “I am really delighted about this fabulous achievement. Staff and pupils at the school thoroughly enjoy a wide variety of sporting experiences and they work very hard. This award is a well-deserved recognition of their achievements.”