Schools: Sports

Hugh Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in England have established links with an (a) football, (b) cricket, (c) Rugby Union, (d) Rugby League and (e) tennis club in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight
[holding answer 5 March 2007]: Based on data collected through the annual school sport survey, which began in 2003 and collects data from schools in School Sport Partnerships, the following percentages of schools had links with these clubs:

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|            |2003/04|2004/05|2005/06|
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|Football    |73     |75     |78     |
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|Cricket     |45     |46     |52     |
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|Rugby Union |39     |41     |46     |
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|Rugby League|10     |9      |10     |
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|Tennis      |27     |30     |36     |
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When the 2005/06 survey was conducted, 80 per cent. of maintained schools in England were in a School Sport Partnership. When the 2004/05 survey was undertaken, this figure was 54 per cent. and in 2003/04, 30 per cent. All maintained schools are now in a School Sport Partnership.