Gifted sporting pupils need more support, says Ofsted
In a new report published to coincide with the Olympic Games, the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has said that talented sports pupils need more attention.
It examines the record of specialist sports colleges and schools involved in the Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links strategy, which attempts to improve the provision and quality of sports teaching for talented pupils.
Ofsted found that the schools involved in the programme were “enthusiastic” about increasing provision for talented pupils but it is “too soon to evaluate its overall impact on pupils’ performance, motivation and self-esteem.”
It found that leadership of the programme was good or better in over half of the schools involved and satisfactory in the majority. Criteria used to identify talented pupils is good or better in half of the schools; however, “the criteria used by schools to identify talented pupils are often not as good at identifying pupils with potential who are underachieving.”
It welcomes the fact that schools are increasingly teaching sport in different ability groups.
Chief inspector David Bell said: “The start of the Olympics highlights how important it is to ensure that youngsters with a special talent for sport are given every opportunity to realise their potential through PE and school sport.
“These talented pupils could well be our sporting stars of the future. PE and school sport can help give them the knowledge, understanding and skills they need when they make the choice of playing sport either recreationally or professionally.
“Schools are committed to realising this goal through the Government’s gifted and talented programme and this report finds some pupils are benefiting from this already.”
Ofsted recommends that the Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport work together to develop better means of identifying talented performers and improve the quality of teaching for talented pupils.
Coinciding with the Ofsted report, the Liberal Democrats today launched their proposals for sport in schools. They suggest the creation of new PE co-ordinators, PE teachers who become specialists in a small number of schools and train pupils in these sports in a number of different schools.
These new co-ordinators would link up with local sports clubs and aim to spot particular talent.
Lib Dem sports spokesman Don Foster said:”Getting children interested in sports early on is vital if we are to nurture the future Olympic champions of tomorrow. Giving children the chance to try out different sports which they enjoy is the only way to allow sport to become a habit for life.
“Our proposal to link local sports clubs with local schools will forge links that boost clubs and help cut the shocking 70% drop out rate in sports participation among children of school-leaving age.
“For too long sport has been seen as an add-on to people’s lives. We see sport as crucial to the nation’s health and well being. With child obesity trebling in the past decade, it is time the Department of Health took a far greater role in promoting sport and active living.”
