Building Schools for the Future

British Rowing was invited to demonstrate the PESSYP Indoor Rowing for Schools programme at the national conference 'Building Schools for the Future' (BSF).

This £15billion scheme aims to rebuild or modernise every secondary school in the country over the coming 10 to 15 years. The provision of sports facilities will play a major part in this work.  Sport England and Youth Sport Trust are working together closely with Partnerships for Schools (PFS) who are managing the process.

BSF is being rolled out in waves with Local Education Partnerships (LEPs) being established in all local authority areas. The local level Sport England officers from County Sports Partnerships will sit on the LEPs and represent the interests of sport.

British Rowing is part of a small working group looking at how national governing bodies for sports can provide the best information to the Local Education Partnerships. We have already met with the governing bodies for swimming and canoeing to see how the profile of our activity can be raised.

British Rowing has draft guidance in relation to the needs of rowing as a curriculum, extra-curricular and community activity.  Key areas include safe and effective indoor rowing, access to gym facilities and the importance of swimming pools. Detailed information on facility design, equipment specification and training for staff will also be provided.

BSF gives rowing a major opportunity to benefit from access to the best local sports facilities as well as broadening the appeal of the sport with more access to the PESSYP Indoor Rowing for Schools scheme.

For further information on the use of ICT in schools, please see the guidance provided by Partnerships for School and including a case study on indoor rowing.

If you have any questions in relation to rowing and health or the BSF programme please contact British Rowing's Youth and Community Manager, Simon Dickie.