The competition, run by the Department for Culture Media and Sport and Department for Education and Skills, aims to highlight the importance of PE and sport in schools and inspire more youngsters to get active.
Schools have until 31 July to enter the competition, launched in The Sun newspaper, to find the best sports school, young sportsmen and women, PE teacher and sports day. There will also be an 'against all odds' award for the person who has overcome adversity to succeed, and a role model of the year vote. Winning entries will be judged by a combination of an expert panel and votes by Sun readers and members of the public.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell said:
"Kids of all ages love to play, and play to win. Schools are the best place to learn about sport and sportsmanship. So I'm delighted we have teamed up with the Sun to launch the School Sport Champions competition.
"This is a fantastic way for schools across the country to shout about their sporting successes. And, with any luck, we will see some of them bringing home gold in London in 2012."
Education Secretary, Ruth Kelly added:
"Competitive school sport matters to learning and health. Importantly, it also builds character and teamwork. Lessons should be fun and inspire every child to take an interest, not only in their fitness, but in sport outside school.
"We are boosting school sport with a billion and a half pound investment and aim to make two hours of PE and sport each week the bare minimum for all school children."
In its goal of getting young people active and involved in sport and PE, the Government is transforming physical education by improving facilities, setting up 400 school sport partnerships and sports colleges and increasing pupil participation in community and club sport.
Over half the schools in England are in a school sport partnership, which are networks of schools that receive funding to increase sports opportunities for all children. All schools will be in a partnership by 2006.
The Youth Sport Trust, which helps to develop school sport partnerships, is supporting the competition. Chief Executive, Steve Grainger said:
"Through our work with sports colleges and school sports partnerships, we know that there is a huge amount of fantastic work going on in PE and sport that deserves to be celebrated. We are looking forward to receiving quality entries and helping schools across the UK to reflect on and reward their successes."
Notes to Editors
1. Application forms can be downloaded from: DCMS school sport page; teachernet website; youth sport trust website; The Sun newspaper website
2. The categories are:
- PE/sports school of the year – primary and secondary school;
- Young sportsman and sportswoman of the year;
- PE/sports teacher of the year – primary and secondary;
- Best sports day;
- 'Against all odds' award to honour achievers who have triumphed over adversity;
- Sporting role model of the year, to be nominated on form.
3. The Government has set a target to ensure that three quarters of children take part in at least two hours high quality PE and sport in and outside by 2006, and aims to offer at least four hours, in and outside school, by 2010. It introduced a national strategy for school sport in 2002 to achieve this.
4. The Youth Sport Trust is a registered charity established in 1994 to build a brighter future for young people through sport. Its mission is to support the education and development of all young people through physical education (PE) and sport.
