FOUNDATION CALLS FOR SIX SPORTS SCHOOLS

Winning Scotland Foundation is urging the Scottish government to redirect funding from sport, health and education towards the development of six multi-sport schools.

The call-to-action follows international research conducted by the University of Stirling for the Foundation, which shows Scotland is lagging behind many countries in fostering schools of sporting excellence. 

Published on the 19th of August, “Sports Schools: An International Review” examines the infrastructure within 10 successful sporting nations including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore and Sweden.   

The findings show these countries cater for elite sports pupils in a systematic way rather than providing ad hoc arrangements for a limited number of pupil athletes.    

Recommendations

This is the second study commissioned by the Foundation.  Last September a Stirling University report warned Scotland’s international sporting success was being held back due to the lack of an integrated strategy for elite sport and sporting cultures of excellence.

One year on, the Foundation is recommending the redirection of funding to create a national elite sports school structure with six secondary schools aligned within the existing Area Institutes of Sport (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling) with the objectives of:

discovering and developing sports talent
achieving international excellence in sports performance
offering a structured systematic and strategic approach to lifelong education for elite athletes
providing an exceptional physical, mental, social and educational learning environment
providing the highest international standards of sport science services
 

Graham Watson, executive director of the Foundation, said: “Sport needs to be more valued within our education system.  It’s not good enough that we only have one specialist sports school as there is enough money in the system for more.

“Investment need to be channelled through closer co-operation between schools, the Institute network and NGBs because the existing sport and education partnership network is not working as effectively as it could.

“This international benchmark delivers a proven road map for the new Scottish government to build upon existing world-class best practice and contribute towards nurturing a sporting culture of excellence across the nation.”  

Professor Fred Coalter, who led the research team at Stirling University’s Department of Sports Studies, added: “Although there are important variations in approach, it is clear that the flexibility adopted by sports schools provides many young sports people with a supportive environment which helps them to manage the pressures associated with balancing academic work and sporting success”.

Research findings

Some achievements from international sports schools include:

-17% of all Canadians from the National Sport School represented at world level

-19 of France’s INSEP athletes competed in 2004 Olympic Games
Finland’s Makelanrinne school has produced 21 Olympic and world medals in eight years

-Between 2001-2004 pupil athletes in Germany won 683 medals at junior world and European championships and 327 at Olympic, World and European championships. 82% of all German medals were won by current or former pupils in Torino, Salt Lake city, Athens, and Sydney

-16 of LOOT pupil athletes have won/represented Holland at world level
 

The research also highlights the issues facing sports schools:  

-integrate pupil athletes within standard secondary schools

-include pupils of all abilities and educational levels

-establish flexible curricula

-consider permitting pupil athletes to extend the duration of their studies

-create educational support systems (summer schools, distance learning)
provide boarding facilities (especially where expertise is limited or sports require particular facilities)

-establish close working relationships with NGBs

-be situated reasonably close to centres of excellence in core sports

WSF Sports Schools - Final Report