Schools Named for ‘Sport in Education’ Initiative

6 November 2012

Media release

Schools Named for ‘Sport in Education’ Initiative

Sport New Zealand has begun a project which aims to use the power of sport to help kids achieve in the classroom and the community.

“Every day we see the power of sport to change the lives of young people and to help them succeed in other aspects of life. This project will harness that power for schools to get the results they want in their communities,” said Sport New Zealand Chief Executive, Peter Miskimmin to launch the project.

Eight secondary schools from around the country have been chosen to take part in the new initiative designed to improve academic and social outcomes by using sport as a context for learning and student engagement.

The schools selected for the Sport New Zealand initiative are:

- Aotea College, Wellington

- Hillmorton High School, Christchurch

- Howick College, Auckland

- Kaikorai Valley College, Dunedin

- Papakura High School, Auckland

- Queen’s High School, Dunedin

- Tauranga Boys’ College, Tauranga

- Te Kuiti High School, Te Kuiti

As well as focusing on improving academic and social outcomes for students and schools, the three-year initiative also aims to increase the number of participants in school sport (both playing and coaching) and better connect secondary schools to their surrounding communities such as neighbouring primary schools and sports clubs.

“We know from our recently released Young People’s Survey that sport really resonates with young people so it makes sense to use that enthusiasm and passion for sport, to help students excel in the classroom and the community.

“When you combine the level of interest we’ve had from secondary schools throughout the country with the breadth of agencies eager to collaborate on this initiative, it’s clear that the potential of the ‘Sport in Education’ project is significant,” added Mr Miskimmin.

‘Sport in Education’ has the support and involvement of the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, New Zealand Council for Educational Research, New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council and New Zealand Olympic Committee. It will also draw upon the success and knowledge gained from a similar project that has been hugely successful in the UK that now includes over 550 schools.

The initial eight participating secondary schools were selected from 41 that expressed an interest to be involved, with the final selection offering an ideal balance across a range of criteria including decile, geographic location, roll size and demographics and current academic performance.

Working groups are now being created across five work-streams including curriculum development, student leadership and sporting links. Resources will subsequently be developed that will be customised to meet the needs of the participating schools, with roll-out commencing in Term One, 2013.

The resources will progressively be made available to not only the network of participating schools, but also those schools that missed selection and ultimately to all secondary schools throughout the country.

Ends.

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