Activemark, Sportsmark and Sports Partnership mark 2006 launch

In 2004 Sport England and the Departments for Education and Skills and for Culture, Media and Sport consulted on proposals to develop and reintroduce - from 2006 – Activemark, Sportsmark and introduce a new Sports Partnership Mark.  The proposals received strong support.

The two key changes are:

• First, the kitemarks will in the future reward delivery of the national PE, School Sports and Club Links strategy.  That means they will only be open to schools which are directly benefiting from the strategy by being within a Schools Sport Partnership;
  
• Second, the kitemarks will be awarded annually, automatically through the national school sport survey, which all partnership schools take part in.  This means that schools will not have to complete a separate application form. This  will reduce the burden  placed on schools. The survey takes place during the summer term – in 2006 it starts on 12 May and runs through until July – and the awards will be announced during the autumn term.

The new kitemarks will be formally launched in May when the 2005/06 school sport survey starts (12 May 2006).  More information on the new kitemarks will then be available from www.teachernet.gov.uk/pe

Questions

1. What if my school isn't in a School Sport Partnership?
   If your school isn’t already within a School Sport Partnership then you will not be eligible in 2006 to be assessed for one of the kitemarks.  Remember the new schemes will now reward schools for the delivery of the national school sports strategy.  However, all schools will be within a partnership by September 2006 so every maintained school will be eligible in 2007.
   
2. How do find out if my school is within a School Sport Partnership?
   You should first ask your PE co-ordinator (primary/special schools) or a member of the PE department (secondary and some special schools).  If they are not sure you can email ssco@aeat.co.uk to check if your school is within a partnership.
   
3. What if the school already has Activemark or Sportsmark and isn't in a School Sport Partnership?
   Interim arrangements have been put in place to allow you to extend your existing award until your school joins a partnership and takes part in the annual school sport survey (i.e. 2007).
   
4. Are the kitemarks open to independent schools?
   In 2006 the kitemarks are only open to maintained schools within School Sport Partnerships.  This is because the new schemes reward delivery of the national school sport strategy.  We are exploring how independent schools linked in a School Sport Partnership can be assessed for the kitemarks in future years.
   
5. What about the gold and distinction awards?
   These will no longer exist under the new schemes.
   
6. Where can I find out more information?
   The kitemarks will be launched in May when the 2005/06 school sport survey starts (12 May 2006).  There will then be more information on the kitemarks at www.teachernet.gov.uk/pe.  If you still have questions you can email pe.sport@dfes.gsi.gov.uk.