Primary School Sport Partnership to launch in September 2019

In September 2019, the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture in partnership with the Guernsey Sports Commission will be launching the ‘Primary School Sport Partnership’. A trial with Hautes Capelles has been running since the New Year, which has worked extremely well and helped fully to establish how the partnership will be embedded within each school.

The partnership will receive funding of £200k per year, which will enable staff from the Sports Commission to be based in primary schools across the Bailiwick, including Le Rondin and St Anne’s, during the school week. There will 5.5 FTE posts in Guernsey and a member of staff in Alderney. The time spent in each school will vary depending on the number of students and classes.

These members of staff will be available to support PE lessons within schools and also to work with staff and parents in order to manage the pathway of young people experiencing sport and physical activity in school, so that they can then enjoy it outside of school.

The ‘Primary School Sport Partnership’ helps further to embed both the Bailiwick’s Curriculum, The Big Picture, and the Physical Literacy Framework. The ‘Big Picture’ promotes positive mental health and wellbeing and takes learning outside of the classroom. The Physical Literacy Framework was developed by Youth Sport Trust in conjunction with other organisations and was designed to support those working in primary schools to consider how best they can structure PE and school sport provision to ensure maximum opportunity is provided to all students.

Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
“Sport and physical activity are an integral part of island life. The benefits of exercise are well documented, for physical health, wellbeing and academic performance, and this coordinated and cohesive approach is an excellent initiative to raise standards and increase participation in PE and sport in schools and communities.”

Jon Ravenscroft, Chairman of the Guernsey Sports Commission, said:
“We are extremely pleased to have secured this funding and I would like to thank Deputy Fallaize, his Committee, and education officers for supporting the Commission with this programme. I am confident that through the hard work of our staff and the dedicated teachers of this island, together we will be able to provide our young people with a great start in developing an active lifestyle.”

Jeremy Frith, Education Development Officer, said:
“The funding for this project has been vital in enabling the Commission to take this significant step forwards. We are excited to be working even closer with schools, sports and other partners to provide the best possible opportunities for children in our primary schools.”