Schools converge to launch a new school sport partnership

Children from schools throughout the Borough of Rochdale will converge on Middleton Leisure Centre this week to launch a new School Sport Partnership. To be officially launched by the Deputy Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Jean Hornby, children will take part in activities such as dance and trampoline to celebrate the beginning of the partnership between five secondary and 26 primary schools, to be led by Cardinal Langley RC High School, which has recently obtained Sports College status.

School Sport Partnerships are families of schools that come together to enhance sports opportunities for all children. The Cardinal Langley School Sport Partnership is the second partnership to be set up in the Borough of Rochdale and the first three 'families' to be established will be based around Middleton Technology School, Hollingworth High and the Borough's Roman Catholic schools based around Cardinal Langley, St Cuthbert's and St Joseph's High Schools.

Over £1 billion is being invested nationally by the Government to transform PE and school sport. Their main aim is to help schools to ensure that their pupils spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport with a further two hours a week outside school. 

The Partnership will receive an annual grant to employ a full-time Partnership Development Manager, based at Cardinal Langley, and to pay to release teachers from secondary schools to act as School Sports Co-ordinators together with designated link teachers from primary schools. Together they will develop a local sports strategy that increases participation in sport and raises standards of pupils' achievement.

Speaking about the new Partnership, Julie Parker, Cardinal Langley Partnership Development Manager said, "All children, whatever their circumstances, should be able to participate in and enjoy PE and school sport. Regular participation, both inside and outside school, can reduce obesity, improve fitness levels and, by improving concentration and self-esteem, help attendance, behaviour and attainment."

Work over the coming months will include the development of links between secondary and primary schools and setting up leadership and coaching opportunities for senior pupils and teachers. The Partnership will also look to increase opportunities for pupils to take part in sport out of school hours creating links in the community to local leisure facilities and clubs.