Agenda item

-        Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services to report.

Councillor Whelbourn, Chairman of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee, introduced a report by the Chief Executive, which set out details of the joint scrutiny review by the Regeneration Panel and Children and Young People Services Panel examining performance in schools against the LAA target NI57.  The target was introduced by the previous Government to measure the number of pupils participating in two hours of sport per week. In the financial year 2009/10, this was updated to measure up to five hours of physical education and sport being offered to young people. The latter target was broken down into two elements:-

·              Two hours curriculum time plus one hour in after school clubs on school site.

·              Two further hours offered outside of school in a range of settings as defined by the Youth Sport Trust.

The review was originally commissioned by the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee and led by the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel with membership from Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel. At this time, Members concerns hinged around two related factors - the possibility of the Council not achieving their NI57 target and the consequent negative impact on the Council’s CPA/CAA score carrying financial implications; secondly, the impact on the health, fitness and obesity levels of children across the borough.

On completion, the review was submitted to the Regeneration Panel and then to the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee on 30th April, 2010 to consider the recommendations. The review was fully supported by the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee, but was not submitted to Cabinet pending the election in May, 2010.

The subsequent change of Government now meant a fundamental shift in national policy around school sport. Initial Government announcements in respect of funding arrangements signalled the likely end of the School Sport Partnerships. Shortly before Christmas, however, a reduced level of funding was reinstated, with a statement pledging support to maintain 450 School Sport Partnership posts across the country.  However, despite a revision of funding levels the focus of School Sport Partnerships would fundamentally change under Coalition policy.

The scrutiny review group reconvened in November, 2010 to revise the recommendations in light of the above changes to funding and structure of the School Sport Partnerships.

The purpose of this report was, therefore, to update Members on the current (and ongoing) situation faced by the School Sport Partnerships and to present a revised set of recommendations to support the Physical Education and School Sport Scrutiny Review for consideration by Cabinet.

The production of the report was financed from the Scrutiny budget, although the recommendations of the review would have financial implications subject to the consideration of Cabinet.

However, Members would need to give consideration to the impact of the reduction in Government funding for the partnerships on the health, wellbeing and fitness of young people in Rotherham and the costs associated with this.

It was also noted that Government changes regarding funding would have implications for the number of staff resources employed within the School Sport Partnerships. The team currently consisted of two Partnership Development Managers and twelve School Sport Co-ordinating Officers based across the two Partnerships and providing co-ordination of physical education and sporting activities to the borough’s’ secondary and primary schools. 

Directly relating to the School Sport Partnerships agenda was the Healthy Schools Team who also co-ordinated physical activities through the TAKE 10 programme. This team would be reduced from five consultants and eight project workers to two consultants only (from March, 2011), having a further impact on the overall momentum of physical education, sport and physical activity in schools.

The Government supported the continuation of competition through their ‘Olympic Schools’ programme, however, this was likely to be determined locally and led by schools.  The review group believed that schools would need continued support and advice to achieve Rotherham’s Corporate Priorities.  In removing the LAA Agreement Indicators and reducing School Sport Partnership funding, the continuation of physical education and sport was at risk owing to the opportunity for some schools to opt out of the current level of activity.

The publication of the Government’s Education White Paper was still awaited, as was clarification locally regarding strategic decisions/funding and further announcements on the detail for the Government’s new programme for sport in schools, both of which would affect resources available to carry out the recommendations in the Physical Education and Sport Scrutiny Review.

Cabinet Members welcomed this report and were informed that the main focus for this review was in relation to the two hours curriculum time for physical education and sport on school sites.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Scrutiny Review “Physical Education and Sport in Schools” and its recommendations be noted and a response be submitted to the Cabinet within two months as outlined within the Council’s Constitution.

(2)  That the decision of Cabinet on the report, recommendations and changes to the funding regime for School Sport Partnerships be reported back to Scrutiny in due course.

(3)  That the Cabinet Member for Safeguarding and Developing Learning Opportunities for Children forward the recommendations from this Scrutiny Review onto all Head Teachers and Governing Bodies.

(4)  That the inclusion of physical education and sport as part of the Public Health Agenda be noted.

(5)  That everyone involved in the review be thanked for their input.