Agenda item

To examine the strategy and activities relating to PE and school sports, including how it impacts on the wider curriculum. 

7.1       The Committee received a report reviewing the work coordinated by the Council’s Sports Unit around PE and school sport (PESS) and detailed future plans to implement innovative programmes to further improve participation in sport and physical activities. 

7.2       The Committee heard from Richard Barker, Director of Community Services and Andrew Durrant, Head of Sports and Wellbeing, how one of the key priorities within the Council’s ActiveWestminster Sport and Physical Activity Strategy was to provide opportunities which led to increased participation in sport and physical activity by children and young people. 

7.3       The Committee noted the wide range of services offered to schools by the Sports Unit through a ‘buy-back’ offer and the annual schools competition programme.  The Committee then discussed how PE and school sport (PESS) fed into sports participation, fitted in with the health and anti-obesity agenda and how PESS added value in helping wider school performance in behaviour and concentration.  The Committee further discussed the opportunities for children to take part in competitive sport in and outside of school. 

7.4       A short film was played to the Committee entitled ‘Vitality Westminster Mile’ https://youtu.be/w47jX75N5fY which showed how Hallfield primary school was incorporating physical activity and the ‘daily mile’ into their school day as well as promoting the Westminster Mile event.

7.5       The Committee heard from Eugene Moriarty, Headteacher at St Augustine’s CE High School, who advised that the Sports Unit was well managed and had provided his school with many sporting opportunities including links to professional sporting clubs, high quality coaches and work experience placements. He further advised of the need for good facilities and safe opportunities for young people to take part in sport in and outside of school and the need for them to be made aware of such opportunities.  Eugene also echoed the need for a balanced curriculum and emphasised that physical activity was important for a young person’s well-being and improved behaviour and concentration in the classroom. 

7.6       Some of the key issues that emerged from the Committee’s discussion were:

• the importance of rolling out the ‘daily mile’ to all Westminster schools.
• the link between increased physical activity and improved behaviour and concentration in children and young people at school.
• the possibility of linking in with the ‘Active School Travel Plan’ Programme.
• the importance of consuming a healthy diet and cutting out sugary foods.
• the importance of encouraging children and young people to take part in physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day (as recommended by the Chief Medical office) to reduce the risk of many chronic medical conditions.
• the accessibility of sports and the impact of inactivity on the health and wellbeing of children and young people living in areas of deprivation.  

7.7       The Chairman thanked everyone who had given up their time to attend the            meeting and contribute to the discussion.

7.8       RESOLVED: The Committee made the following comments which would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Sports and Leisure for consideration:

1. The Committee welcomed the overall approach and work coordinated by the Council’s Sports Unit and the high quality of sports and physical activities provided by them to Westminster schools.

2. The Committee emphasised the need for the Council to continue working with a range of stakeholders, including Public Health, to tackle children and young people’s physical inactivity and child obesity.

3. The Committee highlighted the importance for all schools to provide a balanced curriculum and the positive link between increased physical activity and improved behaviour and concentration in children and young people in school. 

4. The Committee supported the Council working in partnership with the Daily Mile Team to roll out the ‘Daily Mile’ to all Westminster schools to increase the physical activity of children and young people throughout the school day.