£150m investment in School Sport, welcomed by Parkour UK
This morning the government has announced new funding for school sport and PE worth £150m a year for the next two years.
Schools will be able to pay for extra coaching sessions to improve the quality of sports and PE provision.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “We can create a culture in our schools that encourages all children to be active and enjoy sport.”
The Government says the new scheme will involve:
- Lump sums for schools – a typical primary school with 250 primary-aged pupils would receive £9,250 per year, the equivalent of around two days a week of a primary teacher or a coach’s time
- A greater role for sporting and voluntary organisations, including sport’s National Governing Bodies (NGBs) – such as Parkour UK, who will increase the specialist coaching and skills development on offer for primary schools
- Tougher assessment of sport provision by inspectorate Ofsted to ensure the funding is bringing the maximum benefit for all pupils, with schools held to account for how they spend the money
- Sport England investing £1.5m a year of lottery funding through the County Sport partnerships to help schools link up with local sports coaches, clubs and sports governing bodies
- More primary teachers with a particular specialism in PE via a new teacher training scheme.
Eugene Minogue, Parkour UK Chief Executive
“This investment in school sport is very much welcomed by Parkour UK. We share the view of the Youth Sport Trust, that if young people are to develop a lifelong enjoyment of PE and sport then the focus must be on ensuring primary schools get the support and expertise they need. By providing a greater role for NGB’s to provide specialist coaching and skills development, such as our Parkour UK ADAPT 1st4sport Introductory CPD Award in Teaching Parkour/Freerunning course for Teachers, is the way to secure a high quality experience of PE & Sport.”
