Sport Calms Disruptive Pupils
The results and attitudes to school of unruly and disaffected pupils can be improved by having one or two hours of extra sport a week, research suggests. Across the UK, 11,00 pupils have been taking part in the Living for Sport scheme, doing activities like archery, martial arts and boxing.
Loughborough University’s Institute of Youth Sport found more than 75% of them had better attitudes to teachers. The pupils, aged 11 to 16, also had better attendance and punctuality. More than 70% showed improved behaviour during the project and a similar proportion increase self-confidence. Among teachers, 85% felt the project had benefited the pupils taking part.
The living for Sport programme is organised by the charity Youth Sport Trust (YST) and is aimed at children who are disengaged from school life and learning. In its first three years, more than 500 schools have been involved and now the YST hope to extend this scheme to other schools in the UK.
The Living for Sport scheme is sponsored by the entertainment company Sky, which has put forward £1.25m, the Department for Education and Skills has contributed £40,000.
5th Jun 2007
