Basingstoke MP visited Bishop Challoner RC
Secondary School in South Ham to celebrate the importance of PE
and school sport to young people’s wellbeing.
The school is one of thousands across the UK which took part
in Youth Sport Trust’s National School Sport Week 2019, which ran
from 24 to 28 June.
The annual celebration is co-ordinated by children’s charity the
Youth Sport Trust to highlight the important role of Physical
Education and school sport in education. It comes at a time when
national research shows that fewer than one in five young people
are active for 60 minutes every day and thousands of hours of PE
have been lost since 2012.
For this year’s YST National School Sport Week,
schools were showcasing how PE and school sport are
improving young people’s wellbeing. The week is themed around the
Five Ways to Wellbeing which states that the five keys to good
mental health and wellbeing are being active, connecting, giving
back, taking notice and learning.
Maria said: “It has been great to visit Bishop Challoner again,
during National School Sport Week and see first-hand what a
crucial role PE and school sport are playing for students in the
school.”
“Taking part in school sport and good quality PE not only gives
young people the best chance of leading healthy, active
lifestyles, but can also bring huge benefits in improving
wellbeing, concentration and developing character and life
skills. I was particularly interested to hear how the students
were also participating in sports outside school as well, which
means they are far more likely to continue with the sport after
they have left school.”
“It is really important that every young person gets these
opportunities, which is why I’m delighted to be supporting the
Youth Sport Trust’s National School Sport Week.”
Chris Sheers, Curriculum Leader for Physical Education at the
School, said: “At Bishop Challoner we believe it is very
important that every pupil has the opportunity to lead active,
healthy lifestyles. We’re delighted that visited today to see the great
work we are doing to promote PE and school sport across the
school.”
Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver said: “Good quality
Physical Education and school sport equip young people to tackle
some of the big challenges they face today – improving their
wellbeing, getting them ready to learn and helping them to
connect. But in recent years young people have become less active
and PE has been undervalued and cut back.”
“We will only turn this around with schools, teachers, parents
and others joining together to show why PE and school sport have
an essential role to play in every young person’s education.”
“We’re thrilled that MP and Bishop Challoner RC
Secondary School in Basingstoke are supporting this work by
taking part in this year’s YST National School Sport Week.”
