Education is an important policy for the Government, particularly raising standards of achievement, citizenship and school leadership.

Promoting sport and physical education in schools is crucial in creating motivation for, and commitment to, lifelong participation. People who exercise regularly in their youth are more likely to continue to exercise in later years. It is very important that we make sure that young people leave education with all of the basic movement and co-ordination skills they need, as well as positive experiences of a range of sports.

Sport has wider benefits in raising standards, including behaviour, attendance, achievement and attitudes to learning. Schools have also found that pupils’ self-esteem and confidence have grown, and that they are now committed to a healthy, active lifestyle. Evidence suggests that lifelong learning within a sporting environment tends to be more comfortable and less threatening to those who have not taken part in learning for some time.

For case studies go to our Sport Changes Lives page

Strategic aims

• To make sure that all young people leave school with a measured physical literacy and all the basic movement and co-ordination skills they need
  
• To improve access and opportunities to sport through effective use of education facilities, for both young people and the wider community
  
• To work with early-years partnerships, Connexions, youth services and the further, higher and adult education sectors to improve facilities for sport
  
• To make sure there is joint planning and delivery for young people between key agencies at all levels

Key actions

• Support the School Sport Co-ordinator programme as it continues to develop its role and function within the region
  
• Make sure County Sports Partnerships link to young people’s services, strategic partnerships, children’s fund managers and services for looked-after children
  
• Encourage schools to develop a whole-school approach linked to a whole-school programme of activities (beyond the curriculum, sport, dance and so on)
  
• Develop and strengthen the University and College Sport (UCS) network and identify specific actions to meet plan outcomes
  
• Make sure that the community uses facilities in schools and colleges more by providing dedicated human resources to manage and promote them
  
• Develop a programme for school governors to understand the importance of sport within education and the extended schools agenda, and ask governing bodies to consider appointing a governor to promote this agenda
  
• Encourage a programme of training and education for primary and secondary school teachers, adults other than teachers and parents to develop an understanding and commitment to promoting sport
  
• Encourage initiatives that link volunteering in sport to learning and developing individuals in higher education institutions
  
• Encourage all schools to support pupils in achieving the recommendation of doing active recreation for an hour a day
  
• Make sure that the DfES Building Schools for the Future Programme includes a specific focus on community access and club links in relation to design and operational matters
  
• Promote the requirement for two hours of quality physical education and sport in curriculum time
  
• Use the extension of the School Club links programme to increase participation by young people, and develop and maintain appropriate extra-curricular activities with the support of voluntary-sector bodies that use the school
  
• Develop partnerships with early-years providers (Surestart, nurseries and crèches) to support the achievement of the seven pre-school learning goals within the PE School Sport and Club Links national framework
  
• Undertake a pilot study with a school sport partnership and key young people’sagencies to develop ways to involve young people in designing and delivering their activities
  
• Set up with the support of the national sports agencies, effective partnerships at regional and subregional level to make sure Community, Performance and School Sport are working together and focus on children
  
• Develop a multi-agency approach to delivering PE, School Sport and Club Links