Merton kicks off new funding

· by · in Children, Schools and Families. ·

The Merton School Sport Co-ordinator (SSCo) Partnership will be officially launched on Friday 28 November, with a Sports Carnival at Ursuline High School.

Sue Evans, Director of Education, Leisure and Libraries, at Merton Council will be there to watch pupils from Wimbledon Chase, Dundonald, Hollymount, St. John Fisher and Bishop Gilpin Primary schools celebrate the new partnership in Ursuline High School’s new state-of-the-art sports hall.

Pupils from the schools will take part lots of activities at the Sports Carnival including throwing, catching & dribbling skills, with all activities being lead by Ursuline High School senior pupils.

The School Sport Co-ordinator Partnership is a Government funded programme. The Merton Partnership started in September 2003, thanks to a £600,000 grant from the Departments for Education & Skills and for Culture Media & Sport. Merton has committed over £60,000 in partnership funding for the programme. The aim of the partnership is to raise standards of PE and school sport across 33 of Merton’s primary, secondary and special schools. This will be achieved with a number of different approaches including increased after school clubs, festivals and in and out of school competitions.

Councillor Geraldine Stanford, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, said:

“Pupils and staff at Ursuline are delighted to be hosting the launch event for what I am sure will prove to be a very successful partnership across Merton. The additional resources provide a fantastic opportunity to promote and support children’s development in PE and school sport, in a way we have never been able to do before.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information regarding the Merton School Sport Co-ordinator Partnership please contact Steve Day, Partnership Development Manager at Tamworth Manor High School on 07771 940 764 or 020 8764 5112.

2. The School Sport Co-ordinator Programme is part of the joint Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) PE, School Sport and Club Links Strategy. By 2006, there will be over 400 School sport Co-ordinator Partnerships across England including 75% of all schools.