Stoke-on-trent sport and physical activity strategy 2009-2016

support school-club links and leadership as part of the PE and Sport Strategyfor Young People.7. In addition to the main network of primary and secondary schools, <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent has the Outdoor Education Centre at Stanley Head. This centreprovides a unique resource to the whole community, acting as an outdooreducation base for schools in the City whilst also offering opportunities for thewhole community to experience a wide range of activities not otherwiseavailable, such as canoeing, sailing, climbing and archery.Schools reorganisation8. In addition to providing P.E. within the curriculum and extracurricularopportunities, schools are also a major element in the network of communitysports facilities. There are therefore major impacts on community sport forthe proposed schools reorganisation.9. Several of <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent’s secondary schools and some of the primaryschools have existing dual-use programmes, with facilities which were fundedby lottery or other external grant aid on the back of community usecommitments. The current secondary school reorganisation proposals couldhave a major impact on the facilities available, both to the schools and to thecommunity.10. There are opportunities under the reorganisation programme to provide newsports facilities for pupils and the community. Equally as important is aserious potential loss of current facilities through proposed school closures orproposed development of community sport sites, including playing fields. Thebuild programme for all of the secondary schools is anticipated to becompleted by 2013/2014.11. For the purpose of clarity, it is important to re-emphasise here that therecommendations focus on the use of school facilities by the community, andthe potential of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Inrelation to facilities on school sites, this Strategy does not address curriculumor extended school needs. Instead it considers what is potentially required tosupport wider community use in terms of both participation and the pathwaysto excellence.Building Schools for the Future12. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a national building programme thatwill give local authorities the opportunity to transform teaching and learningthrough rebuilding or refurbishing all secondary schools over the next 10 – 15years. As part of the BSF funding envelope, schools will be required toprovide a minimum level of sports facilities as part of any new build. Typicallythis might be a four court sports hall and dance studio, although there couldNortoft Partnerships Ltd <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent Page | 71Sport & Physical Activity Strategy 2009 – 2016October 2009