A quiet revolution in schools presents a fitter picture

David Conn reports on the improvement in sporting provision and delivery at a school in Bradford.  The school is among one of the first schools nationwide due to be rebuilt as part of the £6.5bn Building Schools for the Future programme.  The new school will have a state-of-the-art swimming pool, gym, sports hall, fitness suite, hard-court areas, all-weather pitches and dance and drama studios.  All Britain’s secondary schools and half of all primary schools will be renewed over the next 15 years.  

We are reminded that earlier this month Gordon Brown announced a £100m increased investment for school-age sport.  Conn says that it is hoped the extra funding will help the current generation of school children to keep active when they leave school.  Conn concludes that what is going on is a “quiet revolution” – a solid profound improvement to the provision of sport as part of the British childhood experience.  He says that the government needs to have a similarly serious think about how to help adults be more active in the outside world.

(Guardian, pages 6-7, David Conn)