The coalition government have announced they will reverse their decision to cut spending on school sport.
The School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) scheme, set up by Youth Sport Trust in 2003, as part of the wider P.E and Sport Strategy for Young People, looked set for the chop after the Government announced in October that it planned to withdraw annual funding of up to £162 million.
However amid a public outcry from leading British athletes such as Olympic diver Tom Daley, staff and students in the education system and pressure from numerous politicians including Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Education Secretary Michael Gove performed a dramatic U-turn pledging to restore some of the funding.
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The decision was made amid concerns the move could tarnish the much-vaunted legacy of London 2012, the next instalment of the Olympic Games.
Speaking before the House of Commons, Gove announced: “There will be additional funding for every secondary school in order to ensure it can maintain, if it wishes, its full role in a school sports partnership.”
“But let me be clear, that money is for head teachers to spend. We are making sure the bureaucracy that tied their hands beforehand goes.” Gove added.
The Department for Education will now provide £112m of funding until the end of the 2012-13 academic year, which ensures the 450 partnerships nationwide can continue.
This will begin with £47m of investment during the remainder of the current academic year before £65m is split across the following two.
Shadow Education Secretary Andy Burnham applauded the protest movement which saw the decision overturned.
Speaking to the BBC, Burnham said: “Today they have finally conceded that school sports partnerships have been a real success.
“This is a victory for thousands of young people, teachers, athletes who have all stood up to the Government and said ‘No, we want to keep this!’”
The School Sport Partnerships organise P.E, sports clubs and competitions predominantly at schools without specialist staff.
Figures from a Department of Education survey show that 90% of school children participate in at least two hours of sport per week – an increase of 65% since the inception of the scheme.
For more information on School Sport Partnerships and the Youth Sport Trust, visit: www.youthsporttrust.org
Jourdan Rhule, Sportsister
The Women’s Sport Magazine
