Education CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Patrick Smith

Introduction

I submit this paper as an individual. I have been committed to School Sport throughout my life as pupil, teacher and now retired teacher.

It attempts to lead through logically. I assume that some readers may not be totally au fait with some areas of the situation; to the others I apologise. My comments relate to the situation in England.

Summary

Physical Education, School Sport (1, 2, 3, 4).

Extra Curricular Activities—including Important Point (5, 6).

National Governing Bodies of sport and School Sports Associations, Philosophy (7, 8).

Sport In Schools (9).

The Structure of School Sport (10).

International Aspect (11).

Local Authorities (12).

School-Club Links (13).

Welcome Recent Moves (14).

Volunteer School Teachers—Important (15).

Other Suggestions for Action (16).

Personal Background (17).

1. Physical Education (PE) is the main method of introducing an active life and physical literacy in the school. This also includes mental health as well as physical health. PE is timetabled and reaches all children in the school. Experience of sport is a part of PE.

2. School Sport:

2.1This builds on PE by providing opportunities for sport together with personal development.

2.2This can be done through a School Club and/or a School Team.

2.3It has an educational base.

3. Reasons for School Sport:

3.1These have been well publicised and go beyond mere success and excellence in a sport.

3.2All children can participate in an environment which they attend every day.

3.3It is enjoyable for pupil and teacher.

4. Some By-Products of School Sport:

4.1The ethos of the school is enhanced.

4.2Good pupil-teacher relationships are promoted.

4.3School sport extols discipline.

4.4It can start some pupils on the talent ladder.

5. Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs):

5.1They are an important part of school life; their benefits are immense for the individual, the school and the community.

5.2Within ECAs is the opportunity to experience a choice of sports. It might be through a School Club or a School Team.

5.3ECAs can also include opportunities in Drama, Music, Arts and a wide range of activities.

6. Important Point: They depend mainly on the voluntary activities of teachers.

7. National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and School Sport Sports Associations (SSAs).

In the last 20 years NGBs and SSAs have worked increasingly together. The situation varies from sport to sport. There are still some separate SSAs but they work under the umbrella of the NGB.

8. Philosophy:

NGBs develop their sport.

School Sport develops Young People through sport.

8.1There is much in common but sometimes there is a subtle difference.

8.2By appropriately working together, School Sport can be a part of the talent ladder.

9. Sport in Schools:

9.1Within Secondary Schools the PE teachers take the lead and work hard to promote intra-school and inter-school competitive sport. They are helped by non-PE teachers who have a teaching qualification, with many having sporting credentials.

9.2In Primary Schools, with few PE trained teachers, the teachers organise after school clubs with teams to participate in inter-school competition.

10. The Structure of School Sport:

10.1There is an existing, in some cases long term, structure which organises inter-school competitive sport. It is run mainly by teachers in a voluntary capacity. The majority of these teachers are not PE trained. However, they do know how to run events for children.

10.2There are also links to the talent programme through selected pupils from schools representing areas such as districts, counties and all-England.

10.3The structure varies from sport to sport but there are links to the relevant NGBs.

10.4For example: The Nottinghamshire Schools’ Football Association (NSFA) organises 29 separate competitions for schools, areas, boys, girls, 11 aside, small sided games and different ages.

In addition, they run four representative teams. The Girls Under 16 team is organised jointly between The NSFA and The Nottinghamshire Football Association.

In addition, local areas within the County (eg City of Nottingham SFA) organise their own events to give more opportunities to pupils.

10.5All of this needs funding and time and, further, the encouragement of volunteers.

10.6However, because of increasing pressures on teachers within their own school, they cannot commit themselves to work on behalf of a number of schools.

10.7Area work is often done by former teachers. It is obviously a short term situation!

10.8We are losing a generation of Volunteer Teachers to organise Area Activities.

11. International Aspect:

11.1In a number of sports there are opportunities for individual schools to participate in international events.

11.2This opens opportunities for personal as well as sporting experiences for pupils and schools.

11.3It might be that a school arranges its own visit.

11.4The International School Sport Federation (ISF) arranges for competitions to be held.

11.5The champion school of each country is eligible to take part.

11.6Moves have recently been made to include disabled pupils.

11.7The ISF asks countries to host events, which have a distinct educational flavour to them.

11.8England hosted the Finals of Table Tennis (1993) and Tennis (2003). Scotland hosted Orienteering in 2008.

11.9Obviously, it is expensive not only to stage an event. Even to attend one is often impossible.

11.10In some sports there is also an opportunity for select teams (eg England teams).

11.11Later in 2013 the World Schools Games will take place in Brazil. This is the only multi-sport event and occurs every four years.

11.12Some sports have Schools’ International Matches outside the auspices of the ISF.

12. Local Authorities:

12.1There still exists, in some areas, support for school based sports within Local Authorities.

12.2Some have a Federation of Local/County SSAs through which they distribute Grant Aid.

12.3Sadly, with current financial problems, both the number of Federations and the Grant Aid available have decreased alarmingly in recent years.

12.4It did also enable SSAs to talk with Local Authorities on various matters.

12.5The introduction of independent Academies could complicate the situation.

13. School-Club Links:

13.1Sports not covered in a school could become available.

13.2Ideally many pupils would eventually join a sports club.

13.3The age of joining could depend on the sport.

13.4The facilities at each club must be able to cope with the numbers.

13.5The coaches and administration of the club must be appropriate for children.

13.6Would coaches be available to go into schools during the day?

13.7Coaches should work with, not instead of, teachers to allow continuation.

13.8Coaching should not be confined to talented performers unless agreed.

14. Welcome Recent Moves:

14.1The proposed improvement in Initial Teacher Training in PE for Primary School Teachers.

14.2Continuous Professional Development for Primary Teachers.

14.3Emphasising a link between School Sport and County Sports Partnerships.

14.4Ofsted involvement with quality control of PE and School Sport in schools.

14.5This help for Primary Schools is financially supported, and therefore recognised, by three Government Departments; DoE, DCMS and DoH. Joined up Government!

15. Volunteer School Teachers—Important Suggestions:

15.1The value of Teachers’ involvement in Extra Curricular Activities should be assisted.

15.2They know their pupils and see them daily.

15.3The help may include general support, time, recognition or provision of facilities.

15.4Their value in helping Area School Sports Associations should also be recognised. This goes outside the school into the community.

15.5Paragraphs 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8 show that the present situation of activities being run by former teachers cannot continue for long.

15.6Current enthusiastic, younger teachers need to bring up to date thinking to the situation.

16. Other Suggestions for Action:

16.1When ideas are discussed, those involved at the heart of School Sport should be involved.

16.2The exchange of good practice is valuable and might be performed through Sport England, Youth Sport Trust, Government schemes or by Ofsted. This would help Head Teachers and County Sports Partnerships.

16.3Clubs also need support and advice in working methods.

16.4School Sport should cover all age groups without the arbitrary boundary of the age of 14.

16.5Consider a programme to help Disabled Pupils in PE and sport. A Paralympic Legacy!

16.6Support the training of Young Leaders, more senior pupils, who can help to run events in their local schools. This is surely a legacy for the future.

16.7Consider linking the recent move to help Primary Schools with the School Games Coordinators in County Sports Partnerships.

16.8Expand on the paragraph 16.6 to build a national structure allowing local action.

16.9Attract the right kind of people to support School Sport (eg not short term contracts).

17. Personal Background:

School Teacher: Mathematics 1958–90—1961–90 in Comprehensive School.

National Council for School Sport: Executive Officer 1990–2003.

This work included Discussions with Government on the Development of School Sport.

English Schools’ Football Association: Council Member 1965–90—Chairman 1981–82.

Nottinghamshire Schools’ Football Association: 1961 to date—various Posts.

Nottinghamshire Schools Council for Sport: 1990 to date.

Midland Counties Schools Football Federation: 1990 to date.

Nottinghamshire Schools’ Table Tennis Association: 1978–90.

Received MBE in 2002 for work with School Sport.

Sport + Recreation Alliance: Vice President 2005 to date.

Football Referee:

Sports Officials UK: Honorary Treasurer 2005 to date.

Games Maker in 2012 Olympic Games.

This paper is submitted by me as an individual.

I am not representing the views of any of the above organisations.

I give the above information solely to show my experience.

I am anxious that young people are given an opportunity to:

Discover the joys and benefits of participation in sport whatever the level.

They, in turn, will influence those that follow them, as I followed my parents.

April 2014

Prepared 19th July 2013