Simultaneous sack races across the UK
From this summer, all schools will have to hold a series of sporting events during the same week to promote competition and help get pupils active, the Prime Minister has announced.
Gordon Brown said he wanted all primary and secondary schools to take part in a National School Sports Week, which will be held for the first time from June 30 this year.
Young leaders and volunteers will run sports competitions for primary schools. And specialist sports colleges will hold events for secondary schools.
"It will provide a showcase for school sports, culminating in annual UK school games," Mr Brown said.
Schools will also be able to organise fun events such as three-legged, egg and spoon, and sack races, he added.
The initiative will be led by Dame Kelly Holmes, the Olympic double gold medallist.
A national school sports website will be created, where schools will be able to post results, photos and video footage of school competitions.
The Government has pledged £775 million towards all pupils being able to take part in five hours of sport a week by 2012. Currently the target is two hours a week, with 86 per cent of pupils reaching that level.
Mr Brown told the annual conference of specialist sports colleges last week that sport was an important way to develop young people's academic potential, as well as benefiting their health.
Speaking to the TES, Mr Brown said that sport was only one way to re-engage white working class boys who continue to perform badly in GCSEs.
Professor Margaret Talbot, chief executive of the Association for Physical Education, has called for local authorities to work more closely with schools to deliver a range of non-competitive sports for children who are turned off by team games.
Source: The Times Educational Supplement - 8th February 2008
8th Feb 2008
