Michael Gove U-turns on Labour drive to help school sport

Education Secretary Michael Gove was today forced into an embarrassing U-turn over his pledge to scrap Labour's flagship school sports programme.

Mr Gove said he would restore about half the £162 million of funding for a nationwide network of PE teachers, the so-called School Sports Partnerships, instead of scrapping it altogether.

The about-turn, announced in Parliament today, was welcomed by schoolchildren, former ministers and Olympic champions who fought the cuts since they were announced two months ago.

Ministers were under pressure to defuse the row in case it overshadowed an event at the Olympic Park this evening, where David Cameron will switch on the stadium's lights.

Under the hastily revised plans, about £70 million-£80 million will pay the wages of 3,600 school sports co-ordinators. But the cuts mean coaches, who are seconded from their regular PE duties, will work one day a week instead of two.

Labour's scheme won praise for linking primary and secondary schools, creating a shared pool of staff and facilities.

Mr Gove had wanted to save on what he considered excessive bureaucracy, but critics say he gave little thought to the alternatives. It is hoped teachers' time can be reorganised so there is no loss of PE provision despite the cuts.

Figures from the Department for Education show the proportion of schoolchildren doing at least two hours of sport per week rose from 25 per cent to 90 per cent in the past seven years.

The Youth Sports Trust, the charity responsible for delivering school sport, said it was "absolutely delighted" to keep the network of coaches in place.

Ministers are also expected to announce extra funding for a School Olympics, with the aim of shifting the emphasis to competitiveness.