Fears funding could be cut at school sports group
HEADTEACHERS and an MP have rallied around a sports partnership which is facing severe funding cuts.
Lincolnshire South East School Partnership fears it could be scrapped in the autumn when its funding comes under review by the Government.
The partnership aims to encourage youngsters to take up sport and improve standards by running activities in schools and in the Bourne and Spalding area.
It has now received the support of eight primary and secondary school headteachers in Bourne, along with Stamford and Bourne MP Nick Boles.
The partnership, which is based at Spalding High School, receives 290,000 from the Department of Education.
All projects come under review every three years and funding for sports partnerships has already been cut back. The Lincolnshire South East School Partnership is concerned, in light of drastic spending cuts, that more funding could be slashed.
MP Mr Boles has submitted letters to Minister for Education Michael Gove.
Mr Boles said he was happy to support the partnership but was not aware of any proposal to scrap the partnership.
He said: "I am tremendously impressed by it and it is a great thing and seems to, with relatively little bureaucracy and overheads, get a huge number of parents, teachers and older children involved in teaching sports and hosting competitions for younger children."
Bourne Grammar School headteacher Jonathan Maddox is also supporting the scheme.
He said: "They have been a great support to us. We get allocated a co-ordinator for one day a week and she has contributed a huge amount.
"We have also had great financial support for many projects, including our recent fitness week, which we could not have done without them. We are also planning further things in the future which we would have to cancel without their support."
Bourne Abbey Primary School headteacher Cherry Edwards said: "They provide wonderful support for schools. They do it on two levels by providing support for schools and PE co-ordinators and providing opportunities for children."
Thurlby Primary School headteacher Graham Clegg said the partnership had been effective.
He said: "It creates enthusiasm among the children and gives the opportunity to become involved in a variety of activities."
Partnership development manager Lee Farrell welcomes the support and says that partnerships are best placed to tackle the obesity problem.
He said: "This really is a government funded initiative that is helping to improve the sporting life chances and personal development of local children and young people.
"The Conservative manifesto for sport in schools states that the party will increase the amount of school based sports competitions in order to tackle the obesity time bomb and leave a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"I would suggest that school sport partnerships are best placed to help them achieve this goal and I hope school sports partnership will continue to receive ring fenced funding."
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Monday 06 February 2012
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