PAPER C

COMMISSION FOR CHILDREN AND SCHOOL RESULTS

5^th October 2005

Agenda item : Sport, physical education and pupil attainment

Author : Lee Matthews, Community Development and Leisure Manager

Report on how Physical Education and School Sport help support pupil attainment.

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Considerations and Background

The Sports Development Team currently support the implementation of the National PE, SCHOOL SPORT & CLUB LINKS STRATEGY (PESSCL) The target of this Strategy is :-

"enhance the take-up of sporting opportunities by five to sixteen year olds by increasing the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum from 25% in 2002 to 75% in 2006 and 85% by 2008."

And by 2010 the aims is to offer all children at least 4 hours of sport every week, comprised of at least 2 hours high quality PE and sport at school and the opportunity for at least a further 2-3 hours beyond the school day (delivered by a range of school, community and club providers).

What is the PESSCL strategy ?

The Physical Education School Sport Club Links strategy incorporates eight different strands, supported by £459 million from central government.

1. Specialists Sports Colleges

A school that specialises in physical education and school sport as a vehicle for continued whole school improvement

2. School Sport Partnerships

A cluster of schools' (primary and secondary) that centre around a hub-site (usually a sports college) to share PE expertise, facilities, coaching and professional development.

In essence sport partnerships enhance sports opportunities for all

3. Professional Development

This programme will ensure that teachers and others have the tools and expertise they need to deliver high quality physical education and school sport.

Modules follow a number of different themes and are delivered by local tutors for free

4. Step into Sport

Step into sport encourages involvement in sports leadership and volunteering.

5. School / Club links

Provides the link between high quality physical education and sporting opportunities in the local community

6. Gifted and Talented

This programme aims to improve the range and quality of teaching, coaching and learning for talented sports people.

The Youth Sports Trust has a dedicated site called talent ladder

7. Swimming

Raising the profile of swimming in the PE curriculum via a new swimming charter

8. QCA PE and Sport investigation

The  QCA  is working closely with schools and partnerships across England to investigate high quality PE and school sport.

The National Picture – How Sport and Physical Activity supports “Every Child Matters” outcomes

Being Healthy

• Sport reduces the risk of illness and ill health for young people, can help to prevent or tackle obesity and contributes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Teaching children to eat well and encouraging them to exercise is vital if Britain is to become a healthier and fitter nation.

• Establishing a regular habit of participating in sport is not only important for young people’s current health, but it can provide a stronger platform for the maintenance of good health throughout life. Young people who emerge from their school years feeling confident about their physical skills and bodies, and who have positive experiences of sport, are more likely to be active through adulthood.

Staying Safe

• Sport can promote community cohesion and decrease the likelihood of young people being the victims of youth crime or anti-social behaviour, bullying or discrimination. It can also help to reduce some accidents among young people.

• Sporting activities and events contribute to the development of stronger social networks and more cohesive communities. They provide opportunities for young people to mix with alternative peer groups, which can create awareness of difference and break down barriers between individuals and groups of young people.

• Sports leaders and coaches provide role models for young people, leading by example in terms of their approach, attitude and actions and encouraging appropriate and acceptable behaviour by young people with their peers. Being involved in sport as an active participant, volunteer, administrator or leader can help to develop self confidence and self esteem among young people.

Enjoying and Achieving

• Sport assists young people to learn and attain educational standards, contributes to their personal and social development and to their enjoyment of leisure time.

• Sport can contribute to the ‘enjoy and achieve’ outcomes of the national framework, in particular to young people; attending and enjoying school, achieving stretching national educational standards at primary and secondary school and achieving personal and social development and enjoying recreation.

• Sport can play a role in raising standards in school, improving the basic skills of young people and helping to improve physical coordination, concentration, communication skills, self-confidence and a sense of fair play especially among those who are at risk of low achievement.

Making a Positive Contribution

• Sport engages young people in community activity, reduces the likelihood of them being involved in youth crime or anti-social behaviour; develops their self confidence and encourages positive behaviour and relationships.

• Sport helps young people to feel involved in their local communities and to associate themselves with the people and area in which they live. Local sports activities, festivals and competitions generate a sense of identify and pride. Sport can provide a medium through which young people can have a say on what takes place in their neighbourhood and in decision making about the provision of future sports and community facilities and opportunities for young people and others.

• Sport can encourage young people to engage in law abiding and positive behaviour. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has researched what increases the risk of youth offending and how different programmes and projects can help to decrease this risk. This research shows that there is a framework of ‘risk’ and ‘protective’ factors, covering the family, the school, community and the individual, which together influence rates of youth offending.

Achieving Economic Well-Being

• Sport helps young people to become economically active through providing training and employment opportunities both directly and indirectly.

• Sport can contribute to the ‘achieving economic well being’ outcomes of the national framework, and in particular to young people, engaging in further education, employment or training on leaving school and getting ready for employment.

• Sport in itself provides a range of training, employment and career options for young people. The sports and leisure sector and its supporting industries are significant employers and contributors to the economy. In excess of 400,000 people are estimated to be employed in sports related activities in England, which represents just under 2% of all employment.

The Local picture - What are the Island Schools and partners doing?

• A Strategic Framework to deliver School Sport is in place.
• 2 Sports Colleges have been designated.
• Successfully application to DFES to deliver School Sport Coordinator Programme.
• Developing new sports facilities on School sites – New Opportunities and Sport England Funding.
• Implementing National Continuous Professional Development programme following school audits of needs.
• Producing Partnership development plans – focusing on supporting whole school improvement plans
• Talented and Gifted Children representing Island at Regional, National and World.
• Linking to extended and healthy schools with Health partners (PCT)
• Schools are developing excellent links with Community Coaches and local Clubs

What Difference is it making?

• Increase in the number of schools delivering the National Standard of 2 hours high quality Physical education School Sport. Island 59% (half the schools audited 2005) Southampton School 25%.
• Best practice examples being shared.
• Increased playground activities – zone markings
• The CPD training giving our teachers more confidence and ideas. Many were nervous about health and safety and their teaching ideas. The training reassured them by reinforcing that they were doing things well, especially in Gymnastics.
• Schools sharing teachers to support cluster working – creation of Specialist Link Teachers.
• Increased number of schools offering out of hours sports clubs.
• “Wake up and Shake” up project increasing pupil attainment in some primary schools
• Disengaged young people being reengaged in education through new opportunities – Downside Middle – football and Sandown high School Athletics.

• Schools are increasing both its allocation of PE within the Curriculum and beyond.

• Young people being “inspired” to achieve through structured competitions – local festivals through to World Youth games
• Young people volunteering programme (linked to outside Clubs) is increasing

How do we know if we are succeeding?

• Training Course evaluation forms
• Pupil feedback tell us they enjoy following activity programme
• Teachers inform us of changes in pupil behaviour
• Standards in sports performance are increasing
• Clubs and Coaches tell us they value support of young volunteers
• Increases in overall participation in and beyond curriculum.
• Comparing and sharing with other local authorities and schools

Contact Point – Lee Matthews – Community Development and Leisure Manager - 823818

e-mail :- [email protected]