School Games

What is the School Games?

The School Games is a new approach to competitive school sport designed to motivate and enthuse all young people. Using the unique power and energy of London 2012, now is the time to inspire everyone to take part. Our young people expect and deserve the best – this means an approach to competitive sport that is inclusive of all young people, is about personal best rather than simply ‘the’ best, is exciting, well presented, offers a wide variety of sports and which gives other opportunities for pupils to get involved through cultural activities, organisation, officiating and volunteering.

The School Games is a key Government priority for realising a meaningful sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  With support from 3 Government Departments - Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Department of Health and the Department for Education – and funding from Sport England, through the National Lottery, the School Games underline this Government’s commitment to providing a new approach to competitive school sport designed to motivate and enthuse all young people.

The School Games is also designed to complement existing initiatives in schools which encourage a wide range of young people to participate in sport, such as Change4Life Sports Clubs.

With the support of a newly established network of School Games Organisers (3 day funded post to support the delivery of School Games) and the Teacher Release posts (Teacher employed one day a week in all secondary schools, special schools with secondary aged pupils, middle deemed secondary and PRU’s  to support delivery of the School Games in their feeder primary schools) funded by the Department for Education, we have the chance to create a year round sporting calendar specifically designed to get young people competing at intra-school and inter-school levels, culminating in local, regional and national events.

No matter what their experience, talent or ability, the School Games is open to all young people. Pupils should be able to progress in competitive school sport and the School Games provides the connectivity to achieve this. The School Games is a celebration of competitive sport for pupils that provides opportunities for all young people and is split into 4 distinct but integrated levels.