New Mark Of Achievement For Sporty Schools

Fri, May 12, 2006

Source: Department of Education and Skills

“It’s important that schools' achievements in PE and sport are publicly recognised and celebrated.

Schools Minister Andrew Adonis will today launch a new gold standard for school sport that publicly recognises schools’ achievement in boosting physical education and activity. The first ever Government scheme to reward schools’ commitment to PE and sport is part of its national £1.5 billion drive to improve school sport.

Schools will win the kitemarks for top levels of pupil participation in high quality PE and sport within and after school, as well as their wider sports links with local clubs and the community.

The awards will be based on data gathered from the annual survey of school sport, now in its third year, so schools do not have to go through a separate application process. The Department for Education and Skills has also been working with an independent panel of school staff, the Implementation Review Unit (IRU), who advise Ministers on reducing red tape and bureaucracy in schools.

The kitemarks replace the previous scheme run by Sport England. Primary schools are eligible for Activemark, secondary schools for Sportsmark and school sport partnerships, which are groups of schools working together to increase sports opportunities, are eligible for the new Sports Partnership Mark.

Andrew Adonis, Schools Minister, says:

“It’s important that schools' achievements in PE and sport are publicly recognised and celebrated.

“This scheme will help raise the profile of PE and sport and acknowledge the dedication of the many PE teachers and coaches who go the extra mile to run out-of-school activities. There are no new forms to fill in. In the past schools have had to complete a 20-30 page application.

“The kitemarks will also be useful for parents who want to know which schools value sports and offer a broad mix of opportunities.”

Dame Kelly Holmes, who is National School Sport Champion, says: "It’s great that there is an award scheme to recognize schools that are getting more kids into sport. Sport should be for everyone and is healthy for schools too. Children are more motivated when they have a variety of activities to take part in."

A small panel, including teachers, sports and government officials, will set the standards and threshold for making the awards each year. Schools will have to demonstrate as a minimum that 75% of pupils take part in at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport.

The awards will also take into account inter-school competition for primary schools and links with sports clubs. For the Sports Partnership Mark, all of a partnership’s schools must complete the annual survey and show high levels of participation in PE and sport.

Successful schools will receive a certificate and will be able to use the relevant kitemark logo for the year. The results will be announced in autumn when the responses to this year’s annual survey are collated.

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/newslist.cgi