Northern Ireland

Summer schools highlight `shocking' lack of term-time resources

Under the plan, schools would become community hubs in the summer months
Under the plan, schools would become community hubs in the summer months Under the plan, schools would become community hubs in the summer months

OPENING school premises for creative and sporting summer clubs will reveal a "shocking" lack of resources in education, teachers have warned.

Jacquie White, General Secretary of the Ulster Teachers' Union was responding to reports that schools could remain open to help address childhood obesity and crime.

It is understood that Prime Minister Theresa May's advisers have discussed the proposal with education, physical activity and sports experts who are in favour.

Schools would become community hubs and host sporting, creative and other activities in their gyms, halls and on pitches, but not classrooms.

Ms White said while tackling obesity and crime was important, the plan prompted many questions.

It is initially being proposed for England where research shows that 39 per cent of the country's sports facilities are based at schools. While many are hired out during term-time to generate income, several remain unused during the summer holidays when schools are shut.

"Every week it seems we're hearing of schools cutting back on their spending in areas like the creative arts and sports so for a start it's doubtful how suitable school facilities will be to host such events over summer," Ms White said.

"In terms of using sporting facilities we would suggest that resources might be better spent addressing the lack of engagement in PE by a significant number of, especially girls, during the other 10 months of the year.

"Why, if they're not interested in PE at school will the same young people want to spend their holidays in similar activities? So as a way to tackle childhood obesity, as has been suggested, this idea seems flawed."

Ms White said there was a greater need to prioritise term-time classes and address "the shocking lack of funding there before resources are pumped into summer schools".

"On a very practical level other questions would also need to be addressed, such as how well school sports facilities are managed currently and are there appropriate systems in place to protect both the school and their community users?" she added.

"On the positive side, if the scheme did work it could, of course, address children's inactivity over summer, while giving them structured time could even perhaps cut-down on anti-social behaviour – not to mention relieve parents of the summer child-minding headache.

"However, while similar schemes already exist in some schools here, a wider uptake would take careful planning to ensure that schools had no extra outlay as a result."