School Sport
High Quality PE & Sport for Young People
In 2003 the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published the Learning through PE & Sport. This set out the National Strategy for physical education (PE), school sport, and club links in England. The Strategy's aim is to deliver the Government target to:
"enhance the take-up of sporting opportunities by five- to 16-year-olds by increasing the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum from 25% in 2002 to 75% by 2006."
Following this a 'guide to recognising and achieving high quality PE and sport in schools and clubs' was published which focused on high quality and what is should look like and how schools could achieve it.
What are the basic principles of high quality?
High quality PE and sport always:
- enables all young people, whatever their circumstances or ability, to take part in and enjoy PE and sport
- promotes young people's health, safety and well being
- enables all young people to improve an achieve in line with their age and potential
It is divided into three main sections:
- A detailed description of the 10 outcomes of high quality PE and sport (as first identified in the document "Learning through PE and Sport"). For each outcome there is a list of indicators that give schools and clubs a picture of what they can expect to see young people doing when they are involved in high quality PE and sport.
- An overview of high quality provision - what leaders, managers, teachers and coaches need to do to achieve high quality PE and sport.
- An overview of effective school-club links - how schools and clubs can work together to achieve high quality and the outcomes they are likely to see as a result.
Leaders, managers, teachers and coaches should use the guidance to evaluate, and then set about improving, the quality of the PE and sport that they provide for young people.
Schools should use it alongside the national curriculum and the Ofsted inspection framework to get an overview of the quality they are achieving.
Clubs should use it alongside Clubmark or other National Governing Body accreditation process.
Improving the quality of their provision and the effectiveness of their school-club links will have a direct impact on the progress young people make and the outcomes they achieve. In turn, improving the quality of PE and sport for young people can make a major contribution to whole-school improvement and club success.
Click here to download the "High Quality PE and Sport" guidance document.
For information on the national strategy for PE, school sport and club links (PESSCL) (including Step into Sport, school-club links and the professional development programme) visit www.teachernet.gov.uk/pe or download a copy of the "Learning through PE and Sport" document.
The PE, School Sport & Club Links Strategy (PESSCL)
This page, details the 8 areas covered by the Government's PESSCL strategy - the main aim of which is to:
"enhance the take-up of sporting opportunities by five- to sixteen-year-olds by increasing the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum from 25% in 2002 to 75% in 2006 and 85%
by 2008."
And by 2010 the aims is to offer all children at least 4 hours of sport every week, comprised of at least 2 hours high quality PE and sport at school and the opportunity for at least a further 2-3 hours beyond the school day (delivered by a range of school, community and club providers).
What is the PESSCL strategy?
The Physical Education School Sport Club Links strategy incorporates eight different strands, supported by £459 million from central government.
- Specialist Sports Colleges
A school that specialises in physical education and school sport as a vehicle for continued whole school improvement - School Sport Partnerships
A cluster of schools' (primary and secondary) that centre around a hub-site (usually a sports college) to share PE expertise, facilities, coaching and professional development.
In essence sport partnerships enhance sports opportunities for all - Professional Development
This programme will ensure that teachers and others have the tools and expertise they need to deliver high quality physical education and school sport. Modules follow a number of different themes and are delivered by local tutors for free - Step into Sport
Step into sport encourages involvement in sports leadership and volunteering. - School / Club links
Provides the link between high quality physical education and sporting opportunities in the local community - Gifted and Talented
This programme aims to improve the range and quality of teaching, coaching and learning for talented sports people.
The Youth Sports Trust have a dedicated site called talent ladder - Swimming
Raising the profile of swimming in the PE curriculum via a new swimming charter - QCA PE and Sport investigation
The QCA is working closely with schools and partnerships across England to investigate high quality PE and school sport.
For information on the national strategy for PE, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) visit www.teachernet.gov.uk/pe or download a copy of 'Learning through PE and Sport'.