School funding in Wandsworth faces huge cuts as a result of last week’s Government spending review, Sadiq Khan MP has warned.

Last week the coalition announced plans to abolish the specialist sports status enjoyed by Ernest Bevin College and Southfields Community College, and withdraw the extra money local schools receive to boost sport.  This will lead to a cut of over £400,000 to schools across Wandsworth – a devastating blow to school sport in the borough.

Since 2002 Wandsworth schools have witnessed a transformation in physical education and school sport – rising from 23% participation in 2002 to 89% participation in 2010.  Last year alone, over 10,000 young people in Wandsworth took part in 120 inter-school competitions.

The government is also scrapping the guarantee of five hours of Physical Education and sport to young people and every local school will lose thousands of pounds provided for Physical Education.

Sadiq Khan MP said, “As a former student at Ernest Bevin I’m extremely disappointed to see this funding slashed, which will reverse many of the school’s excellent recent achievements.

“With the Olympics rapidly approaching, and child obesity a growing problem, we should be doing everything we can to encourage students to compete on the pitch, in the pool or in the gym.  

“Youth sport is the best way of keeping youngsters fit, healthy and out of trouble.

“Ten years ago just one in five local children did five hours of sport a week. After years of extra investment close to nine out of ten do so today – this is investment that is clearly producing positive results.”

Nick Miller, manager of the Wandsworth School Sport Partnership, said, “This is clearly a successful programme, which has been responsible for a huge increase in participation in sport across the borough.

“To cut such a successful programme, and only two years before the Olympics, is hugely disappointing, and raises questions about the government’s commitment to sport and the Olympic legacy for our young people. 

“We should be encouraging competition and physical education, not cutting it.”