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English schools must have sprinklers say firefighters


The Fire Brigades Union says the Government is showing "utter complacency" on fire safety in schools, after Schools Minister Nick Gibb said 105 of the 673 schools built and open by February - just 15% - were fitted with sprinklers. "Newly-built schools and other high- risk buildings should have sprinkler systems," says the FBU. "Sprinklers can assist in the control of a fire in its early stages, limiting damage and giving occupants additional time to escape, as well as reducing the risks faced by firefighters attending the incident." Sprinklers are mandatory in new school


buildings in Scotland and Wales, but not in England. Government guidance on safe school design says all new premises should be fitted with sprinklers "except in a few low-risk schools", and the Government says sprinklers are installed when "considered necessary". There were no fatalities from school fires in the eight years up to 2017/18, but there were 244 casualties, according to official figures.


The National Education Union said it was "perverse" that ministers were not enforcing the advice.


The Department for Education


stressed pupil and staff safety was "paramount", and defended its record, saying: "All new school buildings must be signed-off by an inspector to certify that they meet the requirements of building regulations and where sprinklers are considered necessary, they must be installed."


The new data came in response to a question from Labour MP and former teacher Stephanie Peacock, who said: "The ridiculous thing is that we spend far more rebuilding and repairing schools after fires than we would have paid to install sprinklers in the first place."


Nearly 70% of adults want PE to be a core subject in national curriculum


Almost two in three UK adults want physical education to be a core subject in the national curriculum, new research conducted by YouGov on behalf of children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust has found.


The Youth Sport Trust, a national children’s charity which works to improve young people’s wellbeing through sport and play, revealed the findings in the countdown to YST National School Sport Week (24 to 28 June).


The YouGov poll found that 64% of UK adults agreed that PE should be a core subject on the National Curriculum, alongside English, Maths and Science. The findings follow a recent petition from London parish councillor Eartha Pond calling for PE to be a core subject, prompting more than 15,000 supporting signatures, and an official response from Government.


Ali Oliver, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “Pupils are being taught fewer hours of Physical Education than they were a decade ago. Our recent analysis of all subjects taught in UK schools has shown that PE has faced bigger cuts than almost any other subject. It comes at a time when the wellbeing of young people is in decline with too many struggling with issues that a good quality physical education could support them with.


“The development of young people’s 6 educationdab.co.uk


physical literacy and provision of opportunities to enjoy sport, play and physical activity should be a core part of every young person’s education. We passionately believe that a transformed physical education should be on a par with Maths and English in the curriculum. This research suggests the majority of people agree.”


During YST National School Sport Week in June, the charity will campaign and


shine a light on the importance of PE and school sport for young people’s wellbeing. Between 24 to 28 June schools across the country will celebrate and promote how PE and sport are helping young people to experience the widely recognised ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ – being active, connecting, giving back, learning and taking notice. Anyone can take part in YST National School Sport Week by signing up at www.youthsporttrust.org/nssw.


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