New Mark Of Achievement For Sporty Schools

12 May 2006, 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.

Editor’s Notes
This press notice relates to ’England’

1. The Government is investing £1.5 billion to transform PE and school sport at every level, improving teaching, facilities, links to sports clubs and competitive opportunities in schools.

2. The national school sport strategy aims to give all children the chance to take part in at least two hours a week of high quality PE and school sport in and out of school. The Departments for Education and Skills and for Culture, Media and sport share an ambitious PSA target to increase the percentage of 5-16 year olds spending at least two hours a week on high quality PE and sport to 75% by 2006 and 85% by 2008. By 2010, the ambition is to offer all children at least four hours of sport a week.

3. All schools in England are set to be in a school sport partnership by September so eligible to be automatically assessed for one of the kitemarks. In 2006 the scheme is open to 80% of schools already within a school sport partnerships.

4. Sport England and the Departments for Education and Skills and for Culture, Media and Sport consulted on their plans from October 2004 to Friday 7 January 2005.

5. See http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/pe for more information on the national school sport strategy; or contact Debbie Ashford 020 7925 5326.

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