Prime Minister David Cameron to announce extra sports aid for pupils until 2020
Prime Minister to announce £150m-a-year fund for state primary schools will be extended until 2020 to secure the legacy of the London Olympics
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(Prime Minister Cameron’s announcement has been endorsed by leading figures from the London Games, including Mo Farah and Johnnie Peacock (Photo: GETTY IMAGES))[/caption]Children at state primary schools will have extra money for sport and physical education guaranteed for the rest of the decade, Prime Minister David Cameron will say on Thursday.
A £150-million-a-year fund will be extended until 2020 to secure the legacy of the London Olympics, the Prime Minister will announce.
Prime Minister Cameron originally promised, last year, that primary schools’ head teachers would be given extra cash to fund PE lessons and other sporting activities for two years.
Officials say that the money is worth £9,250 to the typical primary school with 250 pupils, enough to pay for a teacher or coach to oversee sporting activities two days a week.
Ministers say the money should allow heads to maintain or increase activities which have been reduced in some schools.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers warned in December that schools were being forced to “sideline” art, music and physical education in the race to meet government targets for literacy and numeracy.
The original scheme was launched after The Telegraph began its Keep the Flame Alive campaign in the summer of 2012, calling for greater support for school sport after the Games.
Prime Minister Cameron’s announcement has been endorsed by leading figures from the London Games, including Mo Farah and Johnnie Peacock, who both won athletics gold medals.
Prime Minister Cameron said: “Sport is so important because it encourages children to be active, lead a healthy lifestyle, make friends and, of course, have fun. But quality school sport has benefits that spread right across the curriculum and beyond – it develops confidence and a sense of achievement, it teaches young people how to rise to a challenge, and nurtures the character and skills that will help them get on and succeed in life.
“It’s an important part of our long-term plan to deliver the best schools and skills for young people. That is why I am committing to guarantee the primary school sports funding until 2020.”
Farah, who won two gold medals in 2012, said that school sport had been vital to many professional sporting careers.
Prime Minister said: “The help I got at school was a key part of how I got to where I am today and so it can make a big difference.”
Lord Coe, the Tory peer who oversaw the London Olympics, said: “I am delighted that the Prime Minister has made this commitment to continue to invest in school sport until 2020.
“We wanted to use London 2012 to inspire a generation to choose sport, and ensuring that children get a positive and engaging experience in primary school of physical education and sport is key to this. A long-term commitment to continue this funding can only help to achieve this.”
As well as funding PE lessons, money will be available to pay for initial teacher training to produce a generation of primary teachers specialising in PE.
English primary schools will be able to apply for a share of an £18 million fund to adapt their grounds and make them suitable for sport.
--The Princess Royal has complained that glitzy Olympic opening ceremonies are marginalising the athletes.
She told fellow members of the International Olympic Committee that the balance had swung too far from the days when the ceremony only involved competitors.
(The Telegraph, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)
