PUPILS at a Reading school were crowned champions at a National Special Schools Final at the prestigious Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

Competing in a range of specially-adapted sports such as kittles, boccia, parachute popcorn, basketball and athletics races, Brookfields Primary School's team of nine pupils claimed gold medals by edging out rivals Ivel Valley, from Bedfordshire, by a two-point margin.

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Whitefields from East London finished in third on 41 points.

The competition for disabled and SEN primary-age pupils brought together nine schools from across the country.

Finishing the day’s event with a total of 66 points at the famous ‘Birthplace of the Paralympics’, Brookfields’ team enjoyed the win.

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Student Jaden Longmate-John, 10, said: "This feels brilliant!" when presented with his gold medal.

He added: "My mum and dad will be really proud of me.

"I'm going to keep my medal on forever – well, at least until I have a bath!"

Matt Crozier, PE teacher at Brookfields, said: "At our school we think it's really important that PE is competitive.

"The outside world is competitive so these opportunities to win, lose or draw are vital for them.

"It's all about having a new experience, coming somewhere different, getting the chance to work as a team and meet other pupils from different schools.

"The games are nice, simple activities that they can all do.

"It's very inclusive and so valuable for them."

Panathlon is a national charity, giving almost 22,000 students with disabilities and special needs every year the opportunity to take part in competitive sport that they are so often otherwise denied.

"We are delighted to have staged this first ever national final for special schools here at the birthplace of the Paralympics," said Panathlon COO Tony Waymouth.

"We are constantly expanding our programmes in multisports, swimming, football, ten-pin bowling and boccia into new schools and counties, giving more and more disabled and SEN students every year the priceless chance to experience competitive sport."