Thousands of Schools Do Not Reward Sports Day Winners

BIRMINGHAM, England, July 3, 2010 -

    - 9% Refuse to Single out Winners

    - 69% 'Inclusive' - Reward All Participants

    - Hundreds of Schools Have No Sports Day

In the week the Government unveiled plans to revive competitive games for
children, new research has revealed that thousands of schools choose not to
reward the winners of pupils' Sports Day competitions.

The survey by www.SchoolStickers.co.uk, the leading provider of
secondary school rewards, found that 9% of schools refuse to single out the
winners of races, and instead prefer to reward all participating pupils.

Only 22% of schools reward solely the winners of Sports Day races, with
most (69%) recognising both the winners and participants. Ministers now want
a new School-Olympics programme to end the culture of 'prizes for all'.

The sports championships are intended to give every child experience of
hard-fought competition, and stop schools refusing to pit youngsters directly
against each other.

The survey also found that pupils at hundreds of schools (2%) miss out on
competitive games as their schools do not have a Sports Day, with all blaming
the organisational burden as the reason for not holding one.

Interestingly, no school said that insurance or health and safety issues
were the reason, and all teachers said they would prefer to hold a Sports Day
if they had the choice.

The vast majority (86%) of teachers said that they have a Sports Day as
this is what they have always done, but 70% added that it was because they
like to promote sport within their school.

Henry Shelford, CEO, School Stickers said, "It is ironic that just days
after the Government announces plans to reinvigorate competition in school
sports, our survey reveal how many schools prefer a more 'inclusive'
approach. Each school is unique and needs to choose the system that works for
them - but I feel sorry for the 500 schools where teachers and pupils want a
Sports Day but can't. All miss out on a fun and stimulating day."

Notes to Editors

    - *There are around 24,363 schools in the UK (Source: Department of
     Education. EduBase2) 9% is 2,192 schools

    - **2% of 24,363 schools is 487 schools

    - Over 280 teachers and headteachers took part in the survey in June 2010

Contact: Henry Shelford, CEO on +44(0)121-33-33-600 or
henry@schoolstickers.co.uk

For more information please contact Cath Roan, Roan Media on +44(0)7801-817-451 or cath at roanmedia.co.uk