Swinney joins netball match to mark two decades of Active Schools programme

John Swinney took to the court for a game of netball at a high school as he marked 20 years of a Government-funding sports programme.

The First Minister donned a green bib as he visited St Augustine’s RC High School in Edinburgh, playing in the role of goal defence and blocking passes from the opposing team of pupils.

He was joined at the school by Scottish Olympic and Commonwealth Games athlete Eilidh Doyle as they celebrated two decades of Active Schools.

After his brief stint playing netball, he spoke to pupils and praised the work of teachers and volunteers involved in school sport.

St Augustine’s is next door to Forrester High School, where Mr Swinney went as a child, and pupils were jokingly told there should be “no booing” at mention of his alma mater.

He told the PA news agency: “We’ve been commemorating 20 years of the Active Schools programme, which has been a really important programme in engaging young people in sporting activity.

“There’s a fantastic example of it here at St Augustine’s where pupils of all ages are encouraged to participate in sport.

“There’s co-operation and collaboration with the primary schools that pupils come to St Augustine’s from.”

He added: “Netball is a challenge, I had to learn some new rules pretty quickly.

“But it was good fun and very enjoyable.”