Supporting high-quality extra-curricular primary school sport in Wales: an evaluation of a university/community partnership initiative

Abstract

The 20-year strategy for sport in Wales, Climbing Higher, established a target of getting all primary school children physically active for 60 min on at least 5 days of the week (Welsh Assembly Government); at the time of writing only 44% have achieved this target. An innovative, multi-agency partnership was created involving undergraduate students from the University of Glamorgan setting up and delivering extra-curricular sports clubs at local primary schools as part of a national initiative. During 2007/2008 more than 4300 participation sessions were delivered, with students contributing in excess of 1200 community volunteer hours. An evaluation of this programme highlights multiple student, community and university benefits. However, a number of key challenges were identified that may compromise the quality of such provision in the future, including, poor facilities, a lack of equipment and the training and recruitment of volunteers.

Keywords:

• partnership
• extra curricular sport
• student placements
• sports coaching
• primary school sport