WIREDGOV

A new scheme to recognise schools’ innovation and achievement in delivering school PE and extra-curricular sport will introduced in three local authorities this August.

The School Sports Awards will accredit schools that continuously improve PE and school sport and deepen sporting links between the school and the local community.

The Awards will be implemented in three council areas - North Lanarkshire, West Lothian and Argyll & Bute - with a view to being rolled-out nationally next year.

The Awards are one part of the Scottish Government’s ambitions for youth sport.

Speaking on a visit to see PE innovation in action at Tollcross Primary School in Edinburgh, Sport Minister Shona Robison said:

“Sport helps young people develop confidence,  self-discipline and a lifelong habit of physical activity that has endless health benefits. We are currently developing a coherent Youth Sport Strategy to raise our ambition on youth sport and fully grasp the benefits it can bring.

“One part of that will be the School Sports Awards, which will build on the success within many schools and use the excitement of the Commonwealth Games. The Awards will recognise schools’ achievements in increasing the amount of PE, offering more extra-curricular sports and making school facilities accessible to the communities they serve. The Awards will encourage competition between schools to achieve the highest level of award and will be introduced in three local authorities from the start of the autumn 2013 school term, with a view to the Awards being rolled-out nationally.”

Tollcross Primary has designed a fitness programme based around use of QR codes. The PE project at Tollcross primary was funded by an Education Scotland grant, one of 220 projects in schools across 29 local authorities who received grants totalling over £600,000 to raise the quality of PE in schools.

Learning Minister Dr Allan added: “There is clearly a great learning benefit from regular and sustained physical activity such as developing concentration skills and a feeling achievement, which is why we are investing heavily in PE within the Curriculum for Excellence.

“Learning should also be enjoyable and it is great to see pupils at Tollcross getting exercise and enjoying themselves with technology bringing a new dimension to their PE lessons - a great example of how PE is changing in schools across the country, from activity to learner led, which provides a far more sustained long term benefit.”

The School Sports Awards will accredit schools that make a commitment to continuously improve PE and school sport, within and outwith the curriculum, and links between school sport and the wider sporting community. Schools would be graded Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering in partnership with local authorities at least two hours PE per week to pupils in primary schools and at least 2 periods of PE per week to S1-S4 pupils in secondary schools by 2014.