Since the removal of funding for School Sport Partnerships during the October spending review, there has been continued uncertainty for School Sport Partnerships across the country.  In February, Jeremy Hunt announced an amount of new funding to support the Government’s School Games Strategy, but although funding for 450 School Games Organisers has been offered to Sports Colleges (3/5 of current funding), there is still no word on the amount or requirements linked to the ’1 day a week’ release funding for PE Teachers of secondary aged students (an expected 50% reduction on current funding).

Time is now running out to secure the retention of the excellent SSP staff currently supporting schools and community partners across Warrington, as they are due to receive their notices of redundancy on 31st May.  These staff include 2 Partnership Development Managers, a School-Club Links Officer, Sports Coordination for Inclusion (Disability and Health), Leadership Activity Coordinator and a number of School Sport Coaches.

Clearly there is not enough funding to maintain the network in its current format, even with the support of schools, council and community partners to source additional funding.  Finding a way forward, which preserves the best of current practice, is becoming increasingly difficult due to a lack of clarity from government regarding funding, and the depth of discussions needed locally to decide how best to employ and where to host the School Games Organisers for which funding has been confirmed.

Warrington’s situation is replicated across the country, as Gareth Davies explains in the Telegraph this week (13th May).

We hope that the next month will provide some clarity, but with the capacity of school sport dwindling with its infrastructure there are genuine concerns that ultimately, it will be the children that miss out.