Oakbank School Sports Partnership

The Oakbank School Sport Partnership (SSP) began in 2001, with 6 secondary schools and 38 primary schools, and 2 Special Schools to increase opportunities and participation levels in PE and School Sport. In 2007 we re-structured the Partnership to consist of 5 Secondaries, 35 Primaries, 2 Special Schools, 1 Independent school and Leeds Park Lane FE College, Keighley.  The partnership is a central part of the ‘PE and Sport Strategy for Young People’ (PESSYP) which aims to improve the quantity and quality of PE and sports undertaken by young people aged 5-19 in England. Each secondary school houses a School Sports Coordinator (SSCo) who is responsible for developing opportunities in their own school and a family of primary schools.  The SSCos are released from their teaching commitments for two days per week to carry out the role.  Each primary school has a Primary Link Teacher (PLT) who is responsible for the development of PE and school sport in their primary school and the PLT is released from timetable for up to 12 days per year.(See inside of folder for the Partnership structure) The SSP, in conjunction with specialist sports colleges, national governing bodies of sport, community providers and the county sports partnership will work to ensure that all 5-16 year olds have access to two hours PE and three hours beyond the curriculum and that 16-19 year olds have three hours of sport outside of the curriculum. The ‘PE and Sport Strategy for Young People’ has 10 strands: 1.             Club links2.             Coaching3.             Competition4.             Continuing Professional Development5.             Disability6.             Extending activities7.             Gifted and Talented8.             Infrastructure9.             Leadership and volunteering10.          Swimming. In order to deliver the PESSYP, a number of working relationships have been developed and a large network of people work within, and alongside, the SSP. In addition to the Partnership Development Manager, SSCos and PLTs, a Competition Manager is shared between Oakbank and Beckfoot SSP’s.  A large number of local clubs and coaches deliver activity in the partner schools and strong links are in place with many community providers.  In September 2008 a Further Education Sports Co-ordinator (FESCO), based at Keighley (Leeds Park Lane) College, was appointed to work with young people aged 16-19 to enable them to have access to three hours of sport. There is also a SSP Administrative Assistant based at Oakbank.  The PDM of Oakbank SSP also sits on the Local Sports Alliance (Sport Keighley) to assist in shaping the strategy aimed at young people in the area.  Oakbank SSP is one of five SSPs in Bradford and close working relationships exist between all five PDM’s and with Bradford Council Children’s Services.  Strategic meetings are held approximately once per month and regular network meetings are also held with the County Sports Partnership (West Yorkshire Sport) and the Youth Sport Trust.