New scheme secures school sports funding (From This Is Cheshire)

New scheme secures school sports funding

7:40am Monday 28th February 2011 in News

FUNDING for sport in Warrington schools looks set to continue after the Government confirmed plans for a new initiative.

Plans for the nationwide School Games were announced in June and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has just announced 450 new roles will be created for staff to organise the events.

The Schools Games Organisers will work three days a week to arrange inter-school competitions aimed at increasing participation at both primary and secondary level.

It is unclear whether the new roles will replace existing staff who already implement the Schools Sport Partnership across schools in Warrington.

That programme, which is used by 25,000 young people in the area, was due to be axed this year but the Government backtracked after the decision was slammed by athletes.

It will now be partially funded until 2011, but it is likely the School Games will eventually replace the SSP.

Paula Pearson, Partnership development manager for the SSP at William Beamont High School, hopes that people performing her job will be able to apply for the new roles.

She said: “We are thrilled to hear of this U-turn which brings hope that some kind of school sport network will be maintained from September 2011. Those involved with school sport in Warrington will make decisions about how to use this funding to bring about the best system for young people in our area.”