Report of the Assistant Director Education School Improvement to the meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be held on 15 April 2014.
Subject: AY
Sport in School
Summary statement:
This report outlines the national and local policy context for PE and Sport in schools over the last few years and how schools and the local Authority have responded collectively to these changes.
Director: Paul Makin, Portfolio: Assistant Director Education and School Children and Young People Improvement
Report Contact: Overview & Scrutiny Area: Phone: (01274) 385676 Children’s Services E-mail: paul.makin@bradford.gov.uk
1. SUMMARY
1.1 This report outlines the national and local policy context for PE and Sport in schools over the last few years and how schools and the local Authority have responded collectively to these changes.
2. BACKGROUND
2.1 In 2010 the Department for Education (DfE) announced that the National Strategy for PE and School Sport was to be discontinued and that any associated national funding would cease by July 2012. Some of this grant aid was later reinstated to fund a network of School Games Organisers although at a reduced level. For Bradford this reduced the grant aid from £1.5M per annum to £120,000 per annum. In Bradford, the nationally funded School Games Organiser network comprises five School Games Organisers, each providing three days per week of support to school games activity plus other related initiatives. The grant payable to each of the five local partners is circa £24,000 per year. The activity of three of the five School Games Organisers has been enhanced due to local initiatives with financial support from individual school budgets.
2.2 The discontinuation of the National Strategy also removed statutory targets for schools to provide a minimum of two hours per week of high quality PE and School Sport, in and out of the curriculum and also retracted guidance on how to improve the provision of sport in schools.
2.3 In April 2013 a new initiative was announced for all primary schools, funded by the Department for Education, Department of Health and Department for Culture, Media and Sport. From September 2013, the Primary PE and Sport Premium introduced additional money to primary schools, ring-fenced to PE and school sport. Each primary school receives an allocation based on a pupil formula. The range in the Bradford District is between £8,260 and £12,560 per year. The total for the Bradford District in 2013/14 is £1.4 million per year. The sport premium will be paid for three academic years 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 however recent announcements suggest an extension to 2020.
2.4 Individual schools are able to decide what is best for their children’s needs. This could include teacher training and development, enhanced delivery by teachers, specialist sports coaching, new additional sports programmes, Changes4Life sport clubs and support for after-school or weekend competitions.
2.5 In 2013 an Ofsted report, “Beyond 2012, outstanding physical education for all” concluded there was not enough strenuous, physical activity in many of England’s school PE lessons, with teachers tending to lack specialist training, and a minority of schools playing competitive sport at a high level. The report also recommends that all schools aim to provide a minimum of 2 hours of high quality PE and school sport.
3. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
The Olympic Legacy, Bradford
3.1 A number of District and individual school initiatives have been developed.
3.2 Secondary Schools; Bradford Secondary Schools Sports Association (BSSSA)
3.2.1 In 2012, driven by a desire to create a positive response to London 2012 and in response to the reduction in funding and the consequent reduction in personnel employed by the School Sports Partnerships, the Bradford Secondary Schools Sports Association was formed. This was initiated by the Council’s PE and School Sport Policy Officer. Thirty six schools subscribe to the association, including some schools outside the District (Appendix 1). The association aims to increase the number and range of quality opportunities for secondary school pupils to participate in school sport competitions and events as well as to support those with talent to progress through pathways of performance as players, leadership, coaching and officials. A Special Schools Section is included to provide an inter school sports competition programme for pupils with disability. In addition the School Games Organisers each arrange at least two programmes per year, minimum of ten in total, for disabled pupils. The Secretariat for the BSSSA is provided by School Organisation and Place Planning within Children’s Services.
3.2.2 The special schools section of BSSSA also works closely with Bradford Disability Sports Organisation, a charitable organisation and Bradford University to create opportunities for disabled pupils to take part in sports programmes throughout the year. A significant initiative is the Cycling Scheme based in Lister Park, delivered by a consortium co-ordinated by Bradford Sports with support from Bradford University, the Youth Service and the Special School sector.
3.2.3 Since its formation, the number of inter school sports competitions has increased by over 30%, new competitions have been added to increase the range of sports on offer and to broaden the ability range, meaning more pupils are taking part in regular inter school sports competitions when compared to the pre 2012 period Twenty three different sports are included in the programme, (Appendix 2) and collectively there is an estimated 150,000 individual visits to a secondary schools competitive event across 35 secondary schools. The biggest programmes are in netball, rounders and football. The smallest programmes are in speed climbing, dragon boat racing and tennis.
3.2.4 A District wide “High School Challenge” was introduced in 2012, 18 secondary schools took part in the initial programme and 22 schools now participate. The programme is a multi competition programme which culminates at a District event and is structured to encourage a wide range of pupils and varied abilities.
3.3 Bradford Gold was launched in the lead up to London 2012 (Appendix 3). A range of engagement programmes and school support has been introduced, including initiatives in aquatics, adventurous activity, junior sports leadership, inter school activity challenges, Olympic sports days which lead to improved school sports days and other cultural activities lined to the London 2012 themes, for example the Precious Cargo project. Part of the platform for this was established by the ‘Get Set for 2012’ initiative, which was supported by over 120 schools from across the Bradford District. A number of national awards were made to Bradford schools, including Oakbank School and Springwood Primary School. Bradford Gold also received a national recognition award.
3.4 In that period, the new sports facilities created via ‘The Building Schools for the Future programme’ have improved the facility stock substantially, enabling a greater range of sports to take place by accessing higher quality facilities. Other initiatives by individual schools in partnership with the Local Authority but outside of the BSF have also increased and improved the facility stock which means more school sport and greater community access to school facilities (Appendix 4).
3.5 Primary Schools
3.5.1 In the period July 2012 to September 2013, the amount of primary PE declined in some schools. However following the announcement of the additional resources for each primary school in April 2013 as part of the ‘Primary PE and Sport Premium’ and the new money being made available to schools form September 2013, there is evidence that activity is increasing and improving.
3.5.2 All primary schools are expected to produce a clear plan for the PE and Sport Premium and Ofsted will include PE judgements in future school inspections.
3.5.3 The PE curriculum and after school sports programme in many schools is being extended in scope and time via:
Greater investment in training teachers and improving the skills and the school workforce to deliver PE and school sport Contracting “external providers” to provide curriculum and extra curriculum PE and sports activity, increasing the range of activities on offer following consultation with pupils Increasing the opportunities for pupils to take place in intra and inter school sport, facilitated by school staff, external partners and community sports organisations Increasing numbers of primary school sports leaders New or additional Change4Life sport clubs Providing places for pupils on after school sport clubs and holiday clubs.
3.5.4 A comprehensive programme of area and district inter school sports competitions comprising 14 sports is co-ordinated by the School Games Organisers and clusters of schools. The programme is divided into five areas within a District Framework.
The percentage of primary schools registered with the programme in each area is:
Hanson Partnership 37% registered Oakbank Partnership 93% registered Thornton Partnership 67% registered Tong (Accelerate) Partnership 95% registered Beckfoot Partnership 68% registered
3.5.5 In the geographical area covered by the Hanson Partnership, a number of schools have opted out of the national programme and have developed a partnership with a local commercial organisation. The national programme is monitored by the Youth Sport Trust and does not include the activities of partnerships that are not affiliated to the national programme. However this partnership does engage with high quality PE and school sport co-ordinated locally.
3.5.6 The District programme includes athletics, (sportshall, cross country and track and field), cheerleading, cricket, football, golf, gymnastics, netball, boccia, new age curling, rounders, tag rugby, swimming plus area competitions in other activities. These competition opportunities are delivered by school staff, Games Organisers and a range of sports providers including the LA Sport and Leisure Services, local sports organisations, commercial providers, social enterprise organisations, sports governing bodies and school sports partnerships. Since 2012 the numbers of schools participating in the inter schools competition programmes has increased by 20%, however the frequency of participation dipped in 2012/13, but is picking up again in 2013/14.
3.5.7 Local Area programmes to support Change4Life clubs on school sites are in place and delivered by the School Games Organiser Network, which also provides support to schools via the Sainsbury School Games Programme and nationally sponsored initiatives. Over 80 Bradford primary schools are involved with the Change4Life initiative, receiving equipment, training and additional support to engage pupils in more healthy activity through PE and sport. Bradford has the largest contingent of pupils participating in the West Yorkshire School Games compared to the other West Yorkshire Authorities.
3.6 Over 100 primary schools and 20 secondary schools have participated in the Matalan and the BUPA schools programmes, co-ordinated via the School Games Network. The BUPA Start to Move programme aims to transform how movement is taught to 4-7 year olds by encouraging pupils to develop basic skills in physical movement, balance, co-ordination and agility. The Matalan initiative develops the leadership skills, team working and personal confidence skills through the programme, thus creating a legacy of their investment.
3.7 A district wide PE Continuing Professional Development programme is available to schools. Children’s Services has recently introduced a PE support service for primary schools as part of the Traded Services portfolio. This is proving to be popular with schools and helps schools to address the new curriculum frameworks, introduce more physical activity in the PE curriculum, helps to encourage pupils to be more active, introduces a high quality training programme for primary schools to develop the physical competency and ability of Key Stage 1 pupils and improve physical literacy at Key Stage 2 and also to help schools develop effective partnerships with other sports providers for the benefit of pupils participation.
3.8 A new Bradford Active Schools initiative is being developed, which will further improve the links between schools and the Active Bradford Network which includes community sports organisations.
3.9 In partnership with West Yorkshire Sport, the LA and Bradford schools are developing closer relationships with Sports Governing Bodies. Recent initiatives include cricket, rugby, non-contact boxing, badminton, tennis, football, gymnastics, archery, swimming, judo, fitness industry, dance, athletics, basketball and adventurous activity, including sail trailing. This is allowing schools to diversify the physical education and school sport programme available to pupils which is encouraging a wider section of pupils into sport and physical activity. This initiative will continue to expand as part of the Active Bradford/Active Schools initiative and the Primary PE and School Sport Premium.
4. FINANCIAL & RESOURCE APPRAISAL
4.1 The Primary PE and Sport Premium brings a total of £1.4 million per annum into Bradford primary schools, ring-fenced to PE and School Sport. In addition national grant support to the five School Games Organisers brings an additional £120,000 per annum, a total of £1.5 million for the District. The two programmes are confirmed to the end of the financial year 2015/16 with a recent announcement that suggests the programmes will be extended to 2020. A PE Support Service is offered to Bradford schools as part of the Children’s Services Traded Services Portfolio, currently 42 schools are subscribing to some or all of the services provided.
5. RISK MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE ISSUES
5.1 None.
6. LEGAL APPRAISAL
6.1 The National Curriculum for England which includes physical education is prescribed under Part 6 of the Education 2002. The National Curriculum contains requirements for the four “key stages” and is mandatory in maintained schools (although it can be disapplied from specific children and specific schools). As an interim measure from September 2013 the current National Curriculum has been disapplied with exceptions but physical education remains compulsory at all four “key stages”. A new National Curriculum is to be introduced from September 2014.
7. OTHER IMPLICATIONS
7.1 EQUALITY & DIVERSITY
7.1.1 There are no issues arising from the Council’s Equality & Diversity Strategy.
7.1.2 There are no issues arising from the Initial Equality Impact Assessment.
7.2 TRADE UNION
7.2.1 There are no Trade Union implications.
8. NOT FOR PUBLICATION DOCUMENTS
8.1 None.
9. OPTIONS
9.1 None.
10. RECOMMENDATIONS
10.1 Members are recommended to receive the report and comment on potential future developments in this area.
11. APPENDICES
Appendix 1 – BSSSA Members Appendix 2 – BSSSA Games programme Appendix 3 – Bradford Gold Appendix 4 – BSF Facilities
12. BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
12.1 Ofsted Beyond 2012 “Outstanding PE for all” Reference No: 120367
Appendix 1 BSSSA Member Schools Appleton Academy Beckfoot School Bell Vue Boys School Bell Vue Girls School Bingley Grammar School Bradford Academy Bradford Girls' Grammar School Bradford Grammar School Buttershaw Enterprise College Carlton Bolling School Challenge College Dixons Allerton Academy Dixons City Academy Dixons Trinity Academy Feversham College Grange School Hanson Academy Holy Family School Ilkley Grammar School Immanuel School Kings Science Academy Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College Oakbank School Parkside School Queensbury School Samuel Lister Academy South Craven Academy St Bedes Catholic School St Josephs Catholic College Thornton Grammar School Titus Salt School Tong High School University Academy Keighley Woodhouse Grove School Skipton Girls Southfield Special School
Appendix 3
Gateway to the Games
KEY DATA What w as the issue to address ? Big plan theme: 1,2,4 & 6 To make the London Olympic Games relevant Key partners: to young people of Bradford a t the grassroots West Yorkshire Sport level of swimming an d diving Volunteering Bradford To use the London Olympics as an inspiration rd 3 Sector – sports clubs for the children of Bradford to take part in an Funding amount: aquatic activity £90,812 (external) To provide grassroots teachers and coaches Funding source: with the opportunity of developing new skills Sport England – Community Investment Fund and practices by working with experienced Le ad organiastion: coaches. Bradford Council Leisure Services – Community Sports and Activities Development What did we do? Unit Project contact name: Created a series of events and programmes that would provide people with Carole Richmond the opportunity to develop in aquatic sports Telephon e: Made sure that the progra mmes w ere 01274 435737 progressive and sustainable f or the two years
Email: leading to London 2012 [email protected] Provide Education Courses f or Grassroots Coaches