Rebecca Harris MP has shown her support for high quality PE and sport in schools in Castle Point by pledging to become a ‘School Sport Champion’.
Rebecca attended the launch of the Youth Sport Trust “Unlocking Potential” Manifesto in Parliament last week with Olympic Gold Medallist, Victoria Pendleton CBE. Local Youth Sport Trust Ambassador, the Headteacher of The Deanes School, Jan Atkinson, was also in attendance at the event. The Deanes School supports Primary, Junior, Infant and Special Schools across Castle Point to promote, raise standards and implement High Quality PE and School Sport as part of a School Sport Partnership.
The manifesto is calling for every child to have access to high quality PE and sport opportunities at school.
PE and school sport provides numerous benefits for young people as it improves physical and mental health, builds resilience, creates active habits for life and boosts academic achievement.
Yet only 21% of boys and 16% of girls currently do the amount of physical activity they need to stay healthy. Far too many children are living inactive lifestyles, damaging both their health and their ability to succeed.
“Unlocking Potential: A Manifesto for PE and School Sport” argues that, by prioritising PE and school sport at the next election, the next government has a critical opportunity, not only to improve our nations’ health, but to boost our education and sporting prospects too.
Rebecca said:
“I am a big supporter of sport in schools, not just because of the immediate health benefits but also because participation in competitive sport promotes skills in students that employers look for when they come to enter the jobs market such as teamwork, communication and dedication. It can also help foster good habits that can improve health and fitness throughout later life.
If it means elite talent can be spotted and nurtured easier too, I am all for Castle Point producing more future national sporting stars!
Our local schools do a good job of promoting competitive sport already and I will continue to celebrate and support it here in Westminster.”