Headline figures wrote:* 90% of pupils participated in at least two hours high quality PE and out-of-hours in a typical week - up from 86% last year and estimated 25% in 2002. It means the Government's 2008 target of 85% participation has been reached - and that 250,000 more pupils than last year and four million more than six years ago are doing two hours a week.
* The variety of sports offered at schools continues to increase - secondary schools now offer an average of over 22 different sports, ranging from mountaineering to kabbadi as well as traditional sports. The average range of sports offered by primary school has risen to 16.5.
* Traditional sports remain pre-eminent in schools - the five most popular sports offered by schools are football (98 per cent), dance (96 per cent), gymnastics (94 per cent), athletics (93 per cent) and cricket (90 per cent).
* Schools continue to embrace non-traditional sports - over the last five years the proportion of schools offering multi-skill clubs rising from 26% to 74%; golf up from 14 per cent to 38 per cent); cycling up from 21 per cent to 46 per cent; archery up from 7 per cent to 24 per cent; and orienteering up from 46 per cent to 62 per cent.
* Schools are building more links with local clubs - on average schools now have links to almost eight different sports clubs up from five in 2003/04. The most common links are with football clubs (79 per cent), cricket (57 per cent), dance (49 per cent), rugby union (48 per cent) and swimming (45 per cent).
Full report here
We do however feature highly in sports provided by Schools, and it is growing considerably which is good to see.
Sports and activities provided during this academic year
Orienteering:
03/04 46%
04/05 48%
05/06 55%
06/07 59%
07/08 62%
Putting it below Football (07/08 - 98%), Dance (96%), Gymnastics (94%), Athletics (93%), Cricket, Rounders, Swimming, Netball, Tennis, Hockey, Fitness, Outdoors/Adventure (75%), Multi-skill clubs, Basketball and Rugby Union (68%)
But it is above (by some way, ~16%):
Cycing (07/08 - 46%), Badmminton (39%), Golf, Rugby League, Table Tennis and many more.
The main increases in availability have been:
• Multi-skill clubs 11 - up from just 26% in 2003/04 to 74% in 2007/08
• Tennis - up from 70% in 2003/04 to 79% in 2007/08
• Fitness - up from 58% in 2003/04 to 77% in 2007/08
• Outdoors / adventurous activity - up from 68% in 2003/04 to 75% in 2007/08
• Orienteering - up from 46% in 2003/04 to 62% in 2007/08
• Badminton - up from 31% in 2003/04 to 39% in 2007/08
• Cycling - up from 21% in 2003/04 to 46% in 2007/08
• Golf - up from 14% in 2003/04 to 38% in 2007/08
• Table tennis - up from 26% in 2003/04 to 34% in 2007/08
• Canoeing - up from 17% in 2003/04 to 30% in 2007/08
• Archery - up from 7% in 2003/04 to 24% in 2007/08
• Mountaineering - up from 7% in 2003/04 to 13% in 2007/08
• Martial arts - up from 4% in 2003/04 to 14% in 2007/08
• Rowing - up from 2% in 2003/04 to 9% in 2007/08
Where we do seem to fall short however is with club links with schools,
Football
03/04 73%
04/05 75%
05/06 78%
06/07 78%
07/08 79%
Orienteering
03/04 5%
04/05 5%
05/06 7%
06/07 7%
07/08 8%
So, orienteering is offered my more and more schools, but there seems to be a lack of club links there - how should this be tackled? How does your club operate with local schools? What success stories can you share?
Read this for more background and share your views and suggestions below.