This is your School Games – make the most of it!

It’s youR School Games Welcome to the School Games – a unique

opportunity to motivate and inspire

millions of young people across the

country to take part in more competitive

school sport than ever before. As we move

closer to hosting the London 2012 Olympic

and Paralympic Games there really is no

better time to build on your existing work

in school sport and showcase the positive

impact that competitive sport can have on

your students.

With the support of School Games

Organisers, we are giving you the chance

to create a year-round sporting calendar,

with around 30 sports available, specifically

designed to get young people competing

at intra-school and inter-school levels and

culminating in local, regional and national

events. The School Games is a celebration

of competitive sport for students and we

want all young people, of all ages, abilities

and backgrounds to be involved.

This prospectus will bring the excitement

and the new opportunities of the School

Games to life for you and your school, and

let you know how you can get involved

ahead of the full competition starting in

September 2011.

LEVEL 1For many young people, sporting competition is first experienced through intra-school events – between house teams, between form group teams or in games lessons. Level 1 of the School Games will build on your existing work to offer students a year-round programme of regular intra-school competition in a number of sports that culminates in a School Games Day.

LEVEL 2At the next stage, individuals and teams can be selected to represent the school in local inter-school competitions, many of which will be leagues. Formats in around 30 sports will be provided for years 3 to 13 so that primary, secondary and special schools can decide which competitions they wish to enter. Schools are encouraged to involve as many youngsters as possible by entering individual competitors and also a number of teams in a broad range of sports.

LEVEL 3Each county/area will host an exciting multi-sport School Games Festival as a culmination to the year-round-programme of inter-school sport. Teams and individuals from primary, secondary and special schools will win the right to compete in this event if they qualify through the local Level 2 inter-school competitions. The School Games Festivals will give young people the platform to be recognised by National Governing Bodies of Sport, which may lead to them being selected for the Level 4 national event. The local organising committee for these events will be chaired by a Head Teacher and will bring together local partners, including County Sport Partnerships.

LEVEL 4The top level of the School

Games competition is a

national multi-sport event

where the most talented

young people in the country

will be selected to compete

in our best venues and live

in the unique and vibrant

atmosphere of an athletes’

village. Our aspiration is for

the first national event to take

place in the Olympic Park in

May 2012 – so there will be no

better opportunity to inspire

young athletes and give them

a taste of competition at the

highest level.

LEVEL 1Intra-school competition

LEVEL 4National multi-sport

residential event

Progression into/through NGB performance system

LEVEL 3Annual county/area culmination of

inter-school competition

LEVEL 2Regular inter-school competition

between schools at local level

FEEDS

LINKED

The School Games: an oveRview

WhAT IS IT?

The School Games is a new and exciting way for all young people to get involved in competitive school sport. There are three key elements to the School Games at all levels:

Getting eveRyone involvedNo matter what their experience, talent or ability, the School Games will be open to all young people. With

competitions available at intra-school, inter-school and county/area level, there is a place for everyone.

The School Games is also designed to complement existing initiatives in your school which encourage a

wide range of young people to participate in sport – such as Change4Life Sports Clubs.

The competition laddeRYoung people should be able to progress in competitive school sport and the School Games provides

the connectivity to achieve this. It provides opportunities for young people to start off in intra-school

competitions and then progress to the next level to take part in inter-school competitions. From there, if a

team or individual qualifies, the next step is competing at a county/area level at a School Games Festival.

At this point young athletes may be recognised by National Governing Bodies of Sport and could go on

to compete at Level 4 - the national multi-sport event.

Using the excitement of spoRt and London 2012

The School Games is a new approach to school sport designed to motivate and enthuse all

young people. Using the unique power and energy of London 2012, now is the time to inspire

everyone to take part! Our young people expect and deserve the best – this means an approach

to competitive school sport that is exciting, well presented, offers a wide variety of sports

and which gives other opportunities for students to get involved through cultural activities,

organisation, officiating or volunteering.

Choosing yoUR spoRtsThe School Games will include as many sports as possible (around 30 in the first year) and

guidance will be provided on competition formats for all age groups at both intra- and inter-

school levels to assist the development of young people in those sports.

What sports will you choose to have as intra-school competitions? Your choice of sports will

depend on what facilities, equipment and expertise amongst teaching staff are available, as

well as school tradition or whether you choose to follow an Olympic or Paralympic theme.

Additionally, how are you going to involve the school’s students in the decisions? As young

people will be the ones taking part in the competitions, they should play a significant role in

coordinating and organising the programme.

In the year leading into our Olympic and Paralympic Games, you might decide that your

school will enter teams into School Games competitions in some of the many Olympic

and Paralympic Sports. The School Games will provide you with information and

guidance on how to compete in as many sports as possible, so make the most of this

opportunity to inspire your students and get them competing for your school.

Further information will be added to www.yourschoolgames.com – once you register you will receive email updates to keep you informed.

1

2

3

The School Games is an inclusive

competition model which will involve

all young people in competitive sport

regardless of their ability, motivation for

competing, aspirations, or any physical or

learning disabilities. A partner of the School

Games is Paralympics GB and all sports

that are part of the School Games will

have competition formats for the inclusion

of disabled young people, promoting

the Values, integrity and endeavour

demonstrated by the Paralympic Games.

Specific formats are being developed,

with a number of sports designed to

allow disabled young people to compete

alongside and against able-bodied and

disabled peers. Such formats already

exist through sports such as Wheelchair

Basketball and the innovative ‘Inclusive

Zone Basketball’ modified format, which

combines the wheelchair and running

version of basketball. The School Games

is also working with sports such as

athletics and swimming to develop easy to

understand scoring systems to allow all

young people to compete together.

For young people who are part of

disability groups requiring specific

sports formats, the School

Games will include sports such as

Boccia and Table Cricket. All areas of

the country will be encouraged to include

an appropriate selection of these sports

at the Level 3 County/area events with

teams having qualified through local

competitions.

Including all young people

WHY do it?

There are many benefits of getting involved in the School Games, both for your school and for your students:

MoRe active - fit and healthySchools can provide even more opportunities for young people to be active through a wider variety of school

sport competitions. These experiences should be the springboard for more students to engage in physical

activity in and out of school, meaning that sport and physical activity becomes a regular feature of their lives.

BehaviouR in schoolCompetitive sport and regular physical activity leads to improved concentration,

thus benefiting attention in lessons across the school – and at breaks and lunchtimes.

TeamwoRK sKillsStudents taking part in competitions develop cooperation and collaboration skills within their team. Equally

those who undertake the coordination and management of the competitions will further develop their

teamwork skills as they work together to run the events, which can be transferred into the classroom.

ConfidenceTaking part in sensitively-planned and inclusive sporting activities can enhance levels of confidence in young

people, who may not have previously participated. With more students being afforded opportunities to take

part, more will be able to reap the benefits.

LeaRning about winning and losingSchools and students can take the experiences of winning and losing in the School Games to improve their

resilience and determination to succeed. Schools can help students to transfer these skills into their wider

school learning. This ‘Sporting Spirit’ is a key element of the School Games.

School ethosSport and competition can be a key driver for bringing staff and students together – just think of the

Olympic and Paralympic Values and their relevance to school life. These opportunities could play a

part in supporting the school’s ethos, reinforcing values and giving numerous opportunities

to celebrate success. Schools with house systems can use the School Games to

further the sense of belonging as they can provide opportunities for students

across age groups to work together.

The School Games provides a great platform from which to enhance all aspects of school life:

The School Games could be utilised to activate a house system through the year-round intra-school programme.

The culmination of the intra-school competition – your School Games Day – could act as a focal point, using sports

competition as the vehicle for students to get involved in other ways, such as filming, reporting or commentating.

The School Games will help you weave more cultural work into school life, replicating the ethos of the Olympic and

Paralympic Games. In your opening ceremony, students might choreograph a dance performance, for example.

The School Games allows students to build a real sense of pride in their school through representing themselves and

their peers in sporting competition. The inter-school competition element provides an excellent opportunity for schools

to build a distinct identity with their own ethos and values.

WhateveR youR school does, students should be right at the HeaRt of it.

Positioning IT in youR school

How do I Get Involved?

Register your school’s interest at www.yourschoolgames.com

Once you register your interest you will receive updates and information as we

approach the start of the first full year of the School Games in September 2011.

Involve the whole schoolThe School Games should excite and inspire everyone to get involved.

Start thinking about how you will work with students, teachers, other staff

and parents to put the School Games at the heart of school life.

Plan your intra-school programmeWhy not bring together a group within your school to plan your intra-school

programme for next year? Which sports and formats will you choose?

What will your School Games Day look and feel like? It’s time to get planning!

TIMELINEAPRIL 2011Get registeredDon’t miss out: register at www.yourschoolgames.com to

get involved in the School Games.

JUNE/JULY 2011Information sent to registered schoolsAdditional details will be sent direct to your inbox to help you plan the

School Games in your school.

SEPTEMBER 2011School Games goes liveYour School Games intra- and inter-school competition

programme starts. Main School Games website goes live.

JANUARY 2012Additional sportsStart of the second term for the School Games –

time to add some sports to your programme?

MAY 2012 School Games national eventThe most talented school-age young people from across the country will be

selected to compete at the first national event. In 2012 our aspiration is for this to

be held at the Olympic Park! Will anyone from your school be competing – and

will you be there to cheer them on?

JUNE/JULY 2012Your School Games DaysThe Level 1 event that is culmination of your intra-school programme.

County School Games eventsThe Level 3 event is the county level-culmination of

your inter school programme.

SEPTEMBER 2012Start of a new school yearHow will you progress your competitions and build on the

progress your school has made?

1

2

3

REGISTERING youR school

www.youRschoolgAmes.com