Select committee inquiry
School sports following London 2012
Closed
What the inquiry looked at
“The Education Committee published the Report into school sport following London 2012: No more political football and said that the Government must match long-term vision with long term funding to secure a 2012 legacy for school sport, the Chairman of the Education Committee said "London 2012 was a magical time and the Games generated massive enthusiasm, particularly among young people. The Government needs to act to ensure that the momentum is not lost amid short-term plans and funding. If school sport is to grow, it needs sustained funding and time to develop." Original terms of reference for this inquiry Publication of Report: School sports following London 2012: No more political football The Education Committee launched a short online survey looking at current policy and provision of school sports and the Olympic legacy. Thank you to all the teachers that contributed to the survey. The data collected has been analysed and will be published as an annex with the Report, however if you wish to view the data collected you can find it here: Teachers survey The Education Committee also launched a short online survey for all young people the date for responses to this survey has also now passed, we had 800 responses to this survey so a big thank you to all the young people that contributed. The data collected has been analysed and will be published as an annex with the Report, however if you wish to view the data collected you can find it here: Young people survey Alongside this the Education Committee started a Twitter conversation with young people, asking if the Olympics inspired them to do more sport in school. To reply use #schoolsports”
The committee's words, from the inquiry page on parliament.uk ↗.
What it found
In the committee's words, from the summary of 3rd Report - School sport following London 2012: No more political football - Volume I (Volume I Report, together with formal minutes) ↗
Good quality school sport is important: it can deliver improved education, health and social outcomes for the nation and for individuals. School is the one place where everybody gets the opportunity to play sport and take part in physical activity and, as such, has an important role in the development of a lifelong sporting habit.
The Government has placed an emphasis on competitive sport being taught in schools.
While this brings with it many benefits, this emphasis can also deter many young people from taking part in sport at all. We recommend that the Department for Education makes clear to all schools that they must offer both competitive and non-competitive sporting opportunities for their pupils, to ensure that all young people feel able to take part in sport and enjoy the benefits it brings.
We found a consensus around primary school as the correct focus for Government investment in school sport. While we welcome the Government’s announcement that 120 primary sports specialists are to be trained this summer, we would want to see how this initiative will build into an improved sport provision for all 17,000 primary schools in England.
We are concerned that successive governments’ approach to school sport has been short-term: occasional “pump-priming” by government is simply not good enough for something so important. We recommend that the Government commits to a long-term vision for school sport which is properly supported by long-term funding.
The primary sport premium funding is only in place for two years, and we believe that this is not sufficient to allow a long-term provision to be built. The primary sport premium must be embedded within a long-term strategy with sustained funding if the Government wishes to demonstrate a commitment to school sport and secure a legacy from the Games.
On its own, the primary sport premium is inadequate.
Schools will need support and guidance if they are to use the primary sport premium funding effectively. The Government’s ring-fencing of the funds and its web-based guidance go only some way to achieving this. Head teachers need a more practical and useable resource to guide them in using the funds to provide a sustained improvement in the sport provision in their school. The best long-term use of the primary sport premium may well be through investment in high-quality training of staff.
Schools must be accountable for their provision of school sport and, more specifically, the use of the primary sport premium. We believe that the idea that Ofsted can hold primary school effectively to account during the two-year period of the funding is flawed. The reporting by schools on their website of how they intend to use the funds does not go far enough, and we recommend that schools should also report on pupils’ achievements as a result of the funding, to bring a sharp focus on outcomes for young people. Alongside this, all schools should report on the amount of school sport and physical education they provide for their pupils.
What the government said
3rd Report - School sport following London 2012: No more political football - Volume III (Volume III Additional written evidence)
No government response is linked to this report.
3rd Report - School sport following London 2012: No more political football - Volume II (Volume II Oral and written evidence)
No government response is linked to this report.
3rd Report - School sport following London 2012: No more political football - Volume I (Volume I Report, together with formal minutes)
The government responded on 16 October 2013.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response.
The government agrees with the Committee on the importance of a lasting school sport legacy and on the primary focus, while setting out its existing strategy and declining some specific requirements.
- On long-term funding, it says that "following the Spending Review announcement we are also exploring how we might fund school sport in future years", and that Ministers and officials from the three funding Departments "meet regularly".
- On guidance for headteachers, it will "continue to post additional, high-quality material" but states that it "does not consider it necessary to duplicate the work of an expert professional organisation" on audit tools.
- On accountability, it says that schools are required through conditions of grant to report online on use of the funding and its impact, but that it "does not set targets for the number of hours that schools should dedicate to PE and sport".
- On teacher training, it says findings from a pilot of primary PE specialists in three school partnerships, "including cost and effectiveness, will inform future decisions".
Read the government's response ↗ Read the report ↗ Report an error
How the inquiry ran
Each dot is a dated item listed on this page, from the inquiry's opening on 12 February 2013 to 16 October 2013.
- Oral evidence 3 sessions
- Report 3 reports
- Government response 16 Oct 2013
What it recommended 11 recommendations · 13 conclusions
1Although the evidence of the impact of school sport specifically on an individual is still...
Concluded (the committee's words)
Although the evidence of the impact of school sport specifically on an individual is still emerging, the evidence of the benefits deriving from physical activity and involvement in sport more generally for individuals and the nation is conclusive. Recognition of this should underpin Government policy for school sport and is the basis for all the recommendations in our Report.
2The balance of evidence to our inquiry supports the view that competition in school sport...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The balance of evidence to our inquiry supports the view that competition in school sport deters some young people from participating in sport and physical activity. We therefore recommend that the Department for Education makes clear to all schools that they must offer both competitive and non-competitive sporting opportunities to their pupils.
3In order to deliver a strong school sport offer, schools must ensure that all pupils...
Concluded (the committee's words)
In order to deliver a strong school sport offer, schools must ensure that all pupils are given a firm grounding in physical education in key stages 1 and 2 and the early years. We welcome the inclusion of PE in the draft national curriculum.
4School sport is too important to rely on occasional efforts at pump-priming; the Government must...
Recommended (the committee's words)
School sport is too important to rely on occasional efforts at pump-priming; the Government must commit to a long-term vision for school sport accompanied by long- term funding. We recommend that the Government sets out a plan for the sustained support and development of its school sports policy, to include measures to ensure a cross-departmental vision and effective working across all relevant departments.
5There is clear evidence that the ending of the school sport partnerships funding has had...
Concluded (the committee's words)
There is clear evidence that the ending of the school sport partnerships funding has had a negative impact, including on the opportunities for young people to access competitive sporting opportunities in school. School sport partnerships were expensive but delivered benefits for children. The Government needs to show that an alternative programme (at lower cost) can deliver significant increases in participation in school sport.
6We concur with Ofsted, and we too recommend that the Government devises a new strategy...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We concur with Ofsted, and we too recommend that the Government devises a new strategy for school sport that builds on the many strengths of the SSP model. We recommend that the Government promotes co-operation and partnership between schools, clubs, county sports partnerships and others to assist the delivery of school sport.
7We were particularly attracted to the idea that any future model should include the role...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We were particularly attracted to the idea that any future model should include the role of a peripatetic PE specialist who works with a cluster of schools as a primary specialist, rather than secondary specialist.
8We agree with the Government that the priority in funding should be primary schools and...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We agree with the Government that the priority in funding should be primary schools and that the ring-fencing of funds is necessary to ensure it is spent on sport.
9We welcome the fact the Department for Education has produced comprehensive guidance for head teachers...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We welcome the fact the Department for Education has produced comprehensive guidance for head teachers on the effective use of the primary sport premium funding, but more work needs to be done to make it as practical and useable as possible. To assist head teachers further, we recommend that the Department for Education produce a simple step-by-step approach to auditing the needs of the pupils and the training needs of staff which could then be used to guide decisions about spending.
10We are concerned that the timeframe of the primary sport premium is not sufficient to...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We are concerned that the timeframe of the primary sport premium is not sufficient to allow a long-term provision to be built. It risks replicating previous short-term fixes rather than creating a long-term solution. On its own, the primary sport premium is inadequate. If the Government is to secure a legacy from London 2012 and demonstrate its commitment to school sport, the primary sport premium must be embedded within a long-term strategy, with sustained funding.
11The number of hours spent on physical education by trainee primary teachers is inadequate.
Recommended (the committee's words)
The number of hours spent on physical education by trainee primary teachers is inadequate. Initial teacher training of primary school teachers must include a more substantial course on physical education, including for children with special needs. We recommend that Ofsted takes this into account when inspecting and assessing initial teacher training provision.
12We conclude that the best long-term use of the primary sport premium may well be...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We conclude that the best long-term use of the primary sport premium may well be through investment in high-quality training of staff.
13We welcome the Government’s plans to begin training a cadre of 120 primary PE specialists...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We welcome the Government’s plans to begin training a cadre of 120 primary PE specialists from this summer. The Government needs to set out how this initiative will build into an improvement of sport provision in all 17,000 primary schools in England.
14We recognise the role that school sport can play in engaging children with special needs...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recognise the role that school sport can play in engaging children with special needs in school and education. We recommend that further, specific training for teachers in the provision of PE and sport for children with special needs—be they for physical disabilities or special educational needs—should be provided in both initial teacher training and continuous professional development.
15We were attracted by Baroness Grey-Thompson’s suggestion that EHCPs include a section, where appropriate, on...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We were attracted by Baroness Grey-Thompson’s suggestion that EHCPs include a section, where appropriate, on physical activity. We were pleased to note that the DfE is looking at how the new SEN Code of Practice could incorporate information on access to school sport and physical activity. We welcome the Minister’s openness to our suggestion and await the outcome of the Department for Education’s consideration of it.
16It is telling that witnesses could not agree what the Government’s London 2012 legacy for...
Concluded (the committee's words)
It is telling that witnesses could not agree what the Government’s London 2012 legacy for schools would be. We believe that the opportunity to realise a London 2012 legacy for school sports has not yet been lost, although further action is needed to ensure that the legacy in schools benefits all children and lasts beyond the two years of the primary sports premium.
17We welcome the School Games as a 2012 legacy activity for sporty young people.
Concluded (the committee's words)
We welcome the School Games as a 2012 legacy activity for sporty young people. Longer-term funding is needed, beyond 2015, to establish the Games and ensure that it does not become another short-term fix.
18We agree with witnesses that the School Games does not provide opportunities for everyone.
Recommended (the committee's words)
We agree with witnesses that the School Games does not provide opportunities for everyone. We recommend the 2012 school sports legacy includes programmes and opportunities for all, not just for committed young sportsmen and women.
19We recommend that the Government encourages partnership between local schools to promote the sharing of...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that the Government encourages partnership between local schools to promote the sharing of facilities. This includes encouraging the private sector to make available its facilities to local state schools.
20While we welcome the inclusion of swimming in the national curriculum, we are concerned that...
Recommended (the committee's words)
While we welcome the inclusion of swimming in the national curriculum, we are concerned that many schools do not have access to a pool. We recommend that the Government undertakes mapping of the provision of swimming pools to assess the scale of the problem, and develops a plan to ensure all schools can fulfil their requirements under the national curriculum.
21We recommend that all schools develop a plan for the development of their gifted and...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that all schools develop a plan for the development of their gifted and talented pupils. Integral to this will be the creation and maintenance of links with clubs and other local schools—including independent schools—to improve the availability and choice of sport for their pupils.
22While Ofsted’s monitoring of the use of the primary sport premium is welcome, we are...
Recommended (the committee's words)
While Ofsted’s monitoring of the use of the primary sport premium is welcome, we are concerned by the limits of this as an accountability measure. We believe that the idea that Ofsted can hold primary schools effectively to account during the two-year period of the funding is flawed. We welcome the requirement that primary schools publish details of how they will use the sport premium, but we recommend that schools should go further and report on what has been achieved by their pupils as a result of the funding. This would lead head teachers to focus on the outcomes for pupils when considering how best to spend the premium funding.
23We recommend that schools are required to report annually on their websites the proportion of...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that schools are required to report annually on their websites the proportion of children involved in at least two hours of core PE each week. Schools should also indicate whether or not they provide weekly opportunities for pupils to participate in school sport, and the proportion of pupils who do so for at least two hours per week.
24We note that there are kitemark schemes for the quality of PE and school sport...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We note that there are kitemark schemes for the quality of PE and school sport provided by national bodies such as the afPE and the Youth Sport Trust, and recommend that schools are encouraged by the Department for Education to achieve these quality marks.
Evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3
- 11 Jun 2013No witnesses recordedparliament.uk ↗
- 21 May 2013No witnesses recordedparliament.uk ↗
- 14 May 2013No witnesses recordedparliament.uk ↗