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The Departments for Education and Skills and for Culture, Media and Sport together with Sport England propose to revamp Sportsmark, Activemark and introduce a new Sports Partnership Mark in 2005. (see sidebar for information)
In the meanwhile;
Sportsmark is Sport England's accreditation scheme for secondary schools. It is a developmental and auditing tool that rewards and recognises a school for its out of hours sports provision and a broad and balanced PE curriculum.
There are two levels of award: Sportsmark and Sportsmark Gold. Schools can receive a Distinction at either level.
In Nov 2004, 1,512 schools have a Sportsmark (24 with distinctions) and 269 hold the gold award (14 with distinctions). Overall, 5% of Sportsmark holders are special schools.
Sportsmark;
In particularly the scheme concentrates on:
- the planned time given to physical education within the core curriculum
- breadth and balance within the core PE programme
- the promotion of fair play and the encouragement of positive sporting attitudes
- opportunities for students to extend their experiences outside the core curriculum, in out-of-school-hours clubs and with other sports organisations
- the opportunities for competition for students within and outside the school setting
- the support given to talented performers
- the development of sports partnerships within the community
- leadership training and practical opportunities for students to extend their leadership skills
- opportunities for continuous professional development for teachers
- development targets for physical education and school sport.
Activemark and Activemark Gold are aimed at and accessible to all infant, junior, primary, middle-deemed-primary schools and special schools with primary-aged pupils. The scheme is designed to be accessible to all schools, whatever their starting point and regardless of their location, resource availability or specialisation.
At Nov 2004, 1,078 schools have an Activemark and 731 have the gold award. A further 945 Activemark applications are under consideration and the results will be announced in November 2004. Overall, 3% of Activemark holders are special schools.
Activemark and Activemark Gold is an accreditation scheme for the primary sector that recognises and rewards a school for its commitment to promoting the benefits of physical activity and offering good physical activity provision.
The programme provides schools with a thorough auditing and development tool to help raise the standard of physical activity provision.
The Activemark process is closely linked with the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) The Active School Resource Pack for Primary Schools, which offers practical steps and guidance on how to plan, as well as ideas on improving all-round physical activity provision.
The key benefits of the Activemark programme are:
- a national award that will become recognisable to children, parents and other schools as a celebration of good practice
- a free copy of the British Heart Foundation's Active School Resource Pack for Primary Schools
- a development tool that enables schools to raise standards as well as the profile of physical activity within and beyond the school
- a flexible framework for planning and development, giving schools the opportunity for self-audit and review
- a focus for a school and other neighbouring schools to work together to promote the sharing of good practice
- specific quality recognition for schools working towards the physical activity strand of the National Healthy Schools Standard.
Want more information? see
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