Coalition Government school sport funding u-turn 'doesn't guarentee future'

Dec 21 2010 by Ian Hernon, Liverpool Echo

EDUCATION Secretary Michael Gove failed to stem fears over the future of school sports despite a partial U-turn over funding.

He was yesterday forced to climb down over the axing of the £162 million Schools Sports Partnership after a outcry from the public, teachers and sporting stars.

He found an extra £47 million to ensure that the scheme, set up by Labour, survives until next summer.

And he had to go back on his earlier claim that the scheme had been a “complete failure.”

But questions remain over £4 million of annual sports funding across Merseyside affecting 170,000 local students.

Wirral South MP Alison McGovern pointed out that the reprieve amounted to just a quarter of the cash earmarked by the previous Government.

She said: “While it is true that the coalition has finally listened to head teachers, parents and pupils, this is still not good enough.

“They are still deeply concerned about the future.

“Bebington High has transformed itself over the last decade, largely through sports. All that is still at risk.”