Young People and Schools

It has always been very clear that the 2012 Games are for the young people of the UK and the world. London 2012 has been committed to engaging young people through its National Education Programme ‘Get Set’, providing learning resources and endless opportunities for schools to demonstrate their passion for the Games, and win some money-can’t-buy prizes.

95% of Kent’s schools are registered with Get Set.  Over 540 of our schools are members of Get Set (ie higher level engagement). This means:

• These schools have extensive resources available to them.
• Competitions such as winning visits from the 2012 Mascots Wenlock and Mandeville, trips to the Olympic Park and much more are available to them.
• Schools in the Network have the chance to receive Olympic event tickets as just over 100,000 have been allocated to ‘Networked’ schools.
• 50% of 8000 Torch bearers will be aged between 12 and 24, with 90% of those chosen through LOCOG programmes and partners. Schools in the Network, again, have a greater chance of being involved in the Torch Relay.

In Kent our schools have always been very active and forward thinking in all matters relating to London 2012.  Schools working in partnership has proven to be highly effective and has led to significant engagement of Kent schools in a variety of London 2012 programmes.

These programmes have been developed and delivered across the schools sector in each of our 12 Education Districts by our '2012 Lead Schools Network' since September 2008.

For further information on any aspect of Kent, Schools and Young People and the London 2012 Games, please contact danny.o’donovan@kent.gov.uk

Funding secured for Kent Schools

To make a real impact and to enable full engagement for our schools and young people in a '2012 Big Events' programme it was recognised that some substantial one-off funding would be required to achieve our objectives.  The possibility of using some unallocated Dedicated Schools Grant was raised at the inaugural meeting of the Kent Association of Headteachers on 11 November and they unanimously endorsed that a proposal for financial support should be presented to the Schools' Funding Forum on their behalf.

The Kent Association of Headteachers' proposal for financial support for London 2012 activities in Kent schools was presented on 25 November 2011 to the Schools' Funding Forum which agreed to set aside up to a maximum of £500,000 from unallocated one-off Dedicated Schools Grant to deliver the FIVE STRANDS of the Kent Schools' '2012 BIG EVENTS' programme.

The aim is for the programme to be formulated and delivered at a local level with young people playing a significant role in planning, leadership, volunteering and officiating, as well as of course the participation.  The programme aims to leave a lasting impact on the children in our schools as well as fostering a closer and positive relationship between education and community stakeholders.

A Frequently Asked Questions document about the BIG EVENTS programme can be viewed here (pdf)