Great Active Sunderland Schools Charter

The Great Active Sunderland Schools Charter was launched in September 2015 to coincide with Ofsted implementing a new Common Inspection Framework which will include for the first time a judgement on personal development, behaviour and welfare.

The Charter' has been developed as an improvement tool and to give credit to those key features of a school that are not always reflected in performance tables i.e., health and wellbeing of pupils, sport and physical activity opportunities and community involvement.

The Charter measures a school's performance over four key areas that include Education, Sport, Physical Activity and key Community standards. Levels of achievement are measured through a Gold, Silver, Bronze and Engagement accreditation.

Since the launch of this unique accreditation programme in 2015 - 2016, the Great Active Sunderland School Charter has been an incredible success, 106 schools achieving either the engagement, bronze, silver or gold standard.

The Charter can provide many benefits for schools, such as:

• Encourages schools to develop programmes to engage the least active children through; Change 4 Life, 60 Active minutes, Daily Mile, Enrichment Programmes, British Triathlon Skills for Life programme, Better Points, Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) and Opening School Facilities (OSF).
• Highlights those key features of a school's performance that are not always reflected in performance tables i.e., health and wellbeing of pupils, sport and physical activity opportunities and community involvement.
• An improvement tool for schools to support pupils regarding being more active and eating healthier.
• Complements the work of the School Games Organisers (School Games Mark) and the Active Sunderland Healthy Lifestyle Programme (formerly Change 4 Life Sunderland Team).
• It is a key component of Together for ChildrenSunderland Healthy Schools Award. This award also supports schools to prepare for Ofsted inspections, as each charter within the Healthy Schools Award has been developed in line with Ofsted guidance, and physical health, mental health and emotional wellbeing are all key components of Ofsted's common inspection framework.
• It is FREE for schools to apply for the Great Active Sunderland School Charter and to make the process easier schools can now apply online. In addition to assist schools further a set of frequently asked questions have been produced along with example online survey answers Great Active Sunderland Schools Charter 2023-24 - Example Survey Answers

In conclusion, the School Charter has quickly developed a proven track record to showcase a school's achievements regarding PE, sport and its role in the community. It is hoped that schools will participate in achieving the Charter and recognise how this programme can benefit schools and pupils.

Darren Pike, Active Sunderland Delivery Officer will continue to actively embed 'The Great Active Sunderland School Charter' across the city's schools and build on the successes achieved so far.

For further information please contact

Darren Pike

Telephone; 07770 584 674