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£1 million has been ring-fenced for the Guernsey Sports Commission to deliver "high-quality" physical education in the Bailiwick’s primary schools over the next five years.
Education, Sport & Culture will set aside £200,000 a year from its revenue budget as part of a five-year deal to strengthen the level of physical education available to primary school pupils.
The partnership was established last year with a view to extending the contract if successful. Since then, the Commission has delivered over 6,000 hours of curriculum time from reception to year 6.
“Our partnership with the Guernsey Sports Commission allows primary school children to access high-quality PE delivered by subject experts at less cost to the taxpayer than would otherwise be the case," said ESC President Matt Fallaize.
Pictured: The Education, Sport & Culture Committee.
"It is a great example of how government and commissioned services in the third sector can work in partnership for the benefit of our community. It will allow the Commission to strengthen further what it is doing in our primary schools.
"Investing in better physical health is valuable in itself and evidence shows it also supports wellbeing and academic performance. The Committee is looking forward to continuing to work with the commission on this excellent initiative to keep raising the bar."
As part of the arrangement, which will run from now until August 2025 at a total cost of £1m, the Education Office will oversee schools’ physical education classes in order to ensure "consistency in the quality of the content being delivered in these lessons."
ESC and Guernsey Sports Commission agree £1 million five-year partnership to deliver high-quality sport programme in primary schools. Read more at: https://t.co/FJaDuc5SUt pic.twitter.com/NAxUqZlCsT
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) August 12, 2020
Guernsey Sports Commission Chairman Jon Ravenscroft said the States' funding is being matched by private sponsors.
“The School Sports Partnership is a key workstream within our 5-year Action Plan and this guaranteed funding means we are well-placed to continue to achieve our objectives," he said.
“Having our staff embedded in schools supporting PE has allowed us to improve the opportunity for all children to have a positive experience of sport and physical activity in school and then go on to join clubs and sporting organisations out of school."
Pictured top: More information about the Guernsey Sports Commission's partnership with ESC can be found on its website.
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