DCMS- School Sports

"Sport is a vital part of a healthy childhood, it helps in the drive against child obesity and competitive school sport offers a wide range of benefits like better self esteem, confidence and social skills. That is why we have got behind the School Games by providing up to £20 million of funding over the next two years. It will help foster strong links between schools and encourage greater uptake." Health Secretary Andrew Lansley

A School Games Tournament – inspired by the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics – is going to be set up to give every child the opportunity take part and compete.

• 500 schools across nine regions will pilot an annual School Games Day: a ’finals’ day stemming from a programme of intra-school competition which will offer disabled children as many opportunities as non-disabled children
• a rolling programme of leagues and tournaments will promote more competition between schools at a town or district level
• up to 60 new, county or city-level ‘Festivals of Sport’ will showcase the best of local competitive sport in the inter-school finals
• the most talented young athletes will have the chance to represent their schools in a high-profile, national event