Schools need investment in sports facilities

Released 28/06/2010

ASCL calls for investment to support the 'school Olympics'

The government's announcement of a young people's Olympics will be welcomed by many schools, but it will require continued government investment in fit-for-purpose sporting facilities, says the Association of School and College Leaders.

Ministers must also recognise the practical considerations of balancing academic and extracurricular activities, as well as competitive sport and other fitness activities that engage a wide range of young people.

ASCL general secretary Dr John Dunford said: "We welcome the government's encouragement for competitive sport, which is alive and well in schools. As ministers know, it is a myth that it does not exist in most places."

"Minsters will also recognise that schools now offer a much wider range of sporting activities than when they were at school, including fitness rooms, dance, cheerleading, orienteering. Many young people who were put off sport when only competitive games were available now enjoy a wide range of activities that promote a healthy lifestyle."

"Not all schools find this breadth of activity easy to offer. Excellent facilities are needed to offer the range of activities now required, including changing rooms that are fit for purpose and sensitive to issues relating to ethnic groups. If funding reduces in the future, schools are likely to have to cut back on sports coaches and others who help with school sport."

"Likewise, some schools will find it a challenge to participate in the ‘school Olympics'. Teachers are now under more pressure than ever in terms of lesson preparation, assessment and examination moderation and there is limited time to run extracurricular activities. Teachers cannot leave their classes frequently with cover supervisors in order to run sporting activities. Controlled assessment and modular exams occur at many times in the year and mean that schools are sometimes unable to release pupils from classroom commitments to attend the many activities at district level," said Dunford.

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