P.E. & School Sports

Sportsmark and Sportsmark Gold

Sportsmark and Sportsmark Gold were established in 1996 as a direct response to the Government's 1995 policy for Sport, Raising the Game. Sport England came together with a range of Government departments and national organisations to develop the scheme.

When a school commits to applying for the awards it engages in a process of self audit of provision for some aspects of physical education and school sport. The application process will help schools to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

The Award has an important place in the development of physical education and school sport for many reasons:

The award is the only national, formal recognition by a major sports agency - Sport England - of the commitment a school makes to physical education and school sport.
It has become a model for other national awards for schools including the Activemark Award for primary schools and the Art's Council of England's Artsmark Award.
The award has given further recognition to schools for engaging in other national initiatives within PE and School Sport including leadership programmes, gifted and talented, study support, healthy schools and Awards for All.
The award is a target for schools taking part in the School Sports Co-ordinator programme.
Some schools considering applications for Sports College status have used the awards as a process to help them audit their provision.
It contributes to information required for Ofsted inspection process.
It provides an impetus to applications to the Sport England Lottery fund and other sports funding in order to create further sporting opportunities.

Sportsmark has its own intrinsic benefits including:

Recognition for PE and school sport within the school and in its immediate and wider community.
The opportunity for a school to demonstrate that it is concerned with the wider development of its students.
The opportunity for wider media coverage.

The awards last for three years and have two levels Sportsmark and Sportsmark Gold. Applications for awards are annual.

Click on the link for schools within Bexley that have achieved Sportmark or those that have applied and awaiting notification.

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