London 2012 yesterday unveiled plans for a wide-ranging education programme to the education sector. Launching in September 2008, the programme will run alongside the Cultural Olympiad between 2008 – 2012 in primary and secondary schools, colleges and Higher Education institutions.
Speaking to an audience of 150 education professionals, with more logging on to a simultaneous webcast, London 2012 Chair Seb Coe was joined by Jim Knight, Schools and Learners Minister at the Department of Children, Schools and Families to announce progress so far and reveal future plans. In his speech, Jim Knight announced details of the revised Citizenship curriculum for secondary schools, which will draw inspiration from the 2008 Beijing Games and London 2012. It includes the ‘Who Do We Think We Are’ week, run in association with the Royal Geographical and History Societies. This three year programme will run in the summer term of 2008.
Other initiatives announced include a commitment from London 2012 Sustainability Partner EDF Energy to provide substantial grants for schools to undertake sustainability programmes and improve their sustainability credentials. They will also work with London 2012 to provide online resources including Geography, Science and Citizenship materials which will link in to the national curriculum.
In addition, IOC International Partner VISA has announced that the VISA ‘Olympics of the Imagination’ art competition will in association with the London 2012 programme. The Legacy Trust will also be running a ‘Big Arts Week’. More initiatives and partnerships will be announced next year.
The wide-ranging programme is based firmly on the Olympic Values – Friendship, Respect and Excellence and the Paralympic Values – Determination, Courage, Inspiration and Equality.
A wide range of Olympic and Paralympic-based learning resources, events and opportunities will be taken into all schools and colleges. These will be organised into eight main themes:
- Culture and creativity
- Enterprise
- Sustainability and regeneration
- Citizenship
- Internationalism
- PE and sport
- Healthy and active lifestyles
- Practical learning
In addition, schools and colleges will have the opportunity to utilise a series of web-based toolkits produced by London 2012 and its partners, to encourage children and young people to create clubs to use the Olympic and Paralympic values within their schools and colleges in ways that are relevant in their own lives. Work will be showcased online, creating a UK-wide community of participating institutions. Schools and colleges that successfully participate in this aspect of the programme can apply to become a fully endorsed member of the London 2012 educational family.
London 2012 Chair Seb Coe said: 'There are about 30,000 education institutions in the country and we are creating four years’ worth of collateral to engage, inspire and excite young people through education. We have been able to work with government and with our stakeholders to create a genuinely joined up plan that will include a huge range of activities from sport to vocational learning. What is really exciting though is that the young people themselves will be able to shape the programme and drive it.'
DCSF Minister for Schools and Learning, Jim Knight said: 'The Games can be powerful and inspiring enough to reach the young people who are hardest to inspire, the most disaffected. If they are engaged by one activity, they stop being so disengaged with the rest of their lives. I know millions of children will say, looking back, ‘I was proud to be in Britain in 2012.’ As we step up our work from now on, beginning with the strategy unveiled today, we will be starting to raise aspirations and starting to build that pride.'
London 2012 Head of Education Nick Fuller said: 'There is a huge opportunity here to let children and young people take the lead. By encouraging them to adopt the Olympic and Paralympic values and by properly supporting them in that process, we can make them responsible for driving real change in their day to day life. We have the opportunity to work with our partners and stakeholders to develop an incredibly ambitious and highly strategic education programme – and so far, we’re on track to deliver.'
Further details of the education plan will be announced in 2008, with a full launch happening in autumn of that year.
Other initiatives announced include a commitment from London 2012 Sustainability Partner EDF Energy to provide substantial grants for schools to undertake sustainability programmes and improve their sustainability credentials. They will also work with London 2012 to provide online resources including Geography, Science and Citizenship materials which will link in to the national curriculum.
In addition, IOC International Partner VISA has announced that the VISA ‘Olympics of the Imagination’ art competition will in association with the London 2012 programme. The Legacy Trust will also be running a ‘Big Arts Week’. More initiatives and partnerships will be announced next year.
The wide-ranging programme is based firmly on the Olympic Values – Friendship, Respect and Excellence and the Paralympic Values – Determination, Courage, Inspiration and Equality.
A wide range of Olympic and Paralympic-based learning resources, events and opportunities will be taken into all schools and colleges. These will be organised into eight main themes:
- Culture and creativity
- Enterprise
- Sustainability and regeneration
- Citizenship
- Internationalism
- PE and sport
- Healthy and active lifestyles
- Practical learning
In addition, schools and colleges will have the opportunity to utilise a series of web-based toolkits produced by London 2012 and its partners, to encourage children and young people to create clubs to use the Olympic and Paralympic values within their schools and colleges in ways that are relevant in their own lives. Work will be showcased online, creating a UK-wide community of participating institutions. Schools and colleges that successfully participate in this aspect of the programme can apply to become a fully endorsed member of the London 2012 educational family.
London 2012 Chair Seb Coe said: 'There are about 30,000 education institutions in the country and we are creating four years’ worth of collateral to engage, inspire and excite young people through education. We have been able to work with government and with our stakeholders to create a genuinely joined up plan that will include a huge range of activities from sport to vocational learning. What is really exciting though is that the young people themselves will be able to shape the programme and drive it.'
DCSF Minister for Schools and Learning, Jim Knight said: 'The Games can be powerful and inspiring enough to reach the young people who are hardest to inspire, the most disaffected. If they are engaged by one activity, they stop being so disengaged with the rest of their lives. I know millions of children will say, looking back, ‘I was proud to be in Britain in 2012.’ As we step up our work from now on, beginning with the strategy unveiled today, we will be starting to raise aspirations and starting to build that pride.'
London 2012 Head of Education Nick Fuller said: 'There is a huge opportunity here to let children and young people take the lead. By encouraging them to adopt the Olympic and Paralympic values and by properly supporting them in that process, we can make them responsible for driving real change in their day to day life. We have the opportunity to work with our partners and stakeholders to develop an incredibly ambitious and highly strategic education programme – and so far, we’re on track to deliver.'
Further details of the education plan will be announced in 2008, with a full launch happening in autumn of that year.
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