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Kent School Games Case Study

Summary

School GamesThe Kent School Games is a tried and tested competitive school sport structure that has the potential to be rolled out across the UK and used as a mechanism for individuals to progress through to the UK School Games. 30,000 young people took part in the first ever Kent School Games which looked to build a long-term legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

What We Did

The Kent School Games are led jointly by KCC Communities Directorate and Children, Families and Education Directorate. They are being developed through a partnership involving School Sport Partnerships, Specialist Sports Colleges and governing bodies of sport; all managed by KCC Sport, Leisure and Olympics Service and Advisory Service Kent. A full time Kent School Games Coordinator is based within Kent Sport, Leisure and Olympics Service.

The Kent School Games will be held every two years up to and after the London 2012 Games.

In the 2010 Kent School Games:

  • 30,000 children participated from heats to finals (from school years 3-11)
  • Finals events began the week commencing 7th June 2010 and ran through until Sunday 4th July 2010
  • There were 38 sporting activities, including disability sports in the Games (total number of sports was 23 in 2008)
  • 13 venues were used for the Finals (seven were used in 2008)
  • The Finals comprised of 10 days of competition (it was held over eight days in 2008)
  • Ages of young people were from four to 16 years (in 2008 it included ages seven to 16)
  • The Finals had approximately 6000 participants (there were 4,422 in 2008)
  • The heats and trials ran from October 2009 to June 2010
  • Primary events were run in each of the 13 School Sport Partnerships, organised by the Partnership Development Managers.
  • The majority of secondary school events were led by the Competition Managers through the `hub` events around the County.
  • Finals events had a greater concentration of art/cultural involvement and content than in 2008 led through the Kent School Games Artistic/ Cultural Group. This included a vibrant Opening and Closing Ceremony
  • Developed around the seven Olympic and Paralympic values

End results (Outcomes)

  • To reinvigorate and raise the profile of competitive school sport across Kent
  • Established a close working relationship between School Sport Partnerships, Sports College networks and National Governing Bodies of sport
  • To be a showcase for future sporting talent
  • To be exciting, enjoyable and rewarding for the individual
  • Encourage the personal development of young people in Kent County Council.