School sports: Half a million pupils protest against Michael Gove’s cuts

School sports day

Education secretary Michael Gove is under nationwide attack from children, headteachers and celebrities because of his plan to axe School Sport Partnerships (SSPs). SSPs share resources and ideas, overseen by school sport co-ordinators. It raises the standards of school sport and gives pupils the opportunity to try sports that in the old days only privately educated kids might have had access to. David Cameron will be urged this week by more than half a million students and teachers to drop all plans to reduce sports in school. They will do this by launching a “peaceful protest” in Westminster on Tuesday, lobbying their MPs and delivering a petition with more than half a million signatures. Since the plans to axe 162 million pounds in funding were announced in October, 450 SSPs are under threat. Cameron has said that ministers would look again at Gove’s decision to end the ring-fenced funding to SSPs. Gove said that the SSP system is too bureaucratic and locks schools into meeting unnecessary targets.

Reaction on article

I understand that the government have to cut money sometimes, but I do not think that this is the right place to cut money. Pupils should not become the victim of it. It is very important that kids get the chance to sport at school in a nice way. This gives them enthusiasm to keep sporting, which is good for their health. It is also better for kids to sport than watching television or playing videogames all day.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/dec/05/school-sport-partnerships-protests-michael-gove