21st February 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Although we are less than six months on from the London 2012 Olympic Games, the government has been accused of ignoring the importance of sport in schools through its monetary cuts. The Education Secretary Michael Gove is predicted to reveal a new strategy for sport in schools later this month. However, Shadow Sports Minister Clive Efford MP believes that ‘What has gone on in school sports is absolutely disastrous.’
The government has decided to end the recommendation for two hours of PE in schools each week as well as discontinuing funding solely allocated to the national School Sport Partnerships (SSPs). This network allowed secondary schools to borrow PE teachers from better equipped ones, especially in the primary sector. However, two years ago its £162m funding was axed and following protests was reinstated but only with £65m of funding which allowed it to run partially.
This funding is also due to cease before the start of the next academic year leaving schools with much concern about the future. These SSPs were an organisation on which a national sports plan could be built to inspire children to become active and stay active. Research has shown that a third of all children leaving primary school are now clinically obese or overweight – a worrying fact.
The government is preparing its strategy with Lord Coe, the London 2012 chairman in which the main focus will be on primary school sport. He stated that they wanted to create opportunities for high quality PE for youngsters which would include ‘good quality physical education within the timetable, competitive sport in a properly managed environment, and give young people’.