School Games Update – New direction of travel

The School Games programme has, until recently, been designed to keep competitive sport at the heart of schools and provide more young people with the opportunity to compete and achieve their personal best. As part of their new 10-year strategy Uniting the Movement, Sport England has signalled a new direction of travel.

The guiding principle of this new direction is about investing most in those that need it most, to tackle the deep-rooted inequalities that exist in sport and physical activity. These deep-rooted inequalities are affecting thousands of Oxfordshire's children and young people facing disadvantage – inequalities that have been further exacerbated by COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis. This is why it's important that we act now, to use School Games to tackle these inequalities and give our county's children and young people in greatest need the best chance at an active start in life

How will the County School Games look and feel different 22-23

This academic year we have decided that the core focus of School Games will be on tackling inequalities and reaching young people most in need.

We therefore will not be running the traditional County Final Competitions but instead, will hold two festivals aimed at different cohorts of young people.

School Games Organisers will continue to deliver activities and competitions in their districts for both primary and secondary schools but these will no longer lead to a County Final.

Below you can find the full communications piece that was sent to schools which details the "What, Why and Why now".