Parents have been banned from spectating at sporting events run for their children because of poor behaviour. Merton School Sport Partnership (MSSP) runs sports and physical education events for over 40 primary schools in the London borough of Merton.
The Partnership reportedly wrote to parents last week to tell them they were no longer welcome to attend the sports events it delivers to affiliated schools during the school day, including football, hockey and gymnastics. Under previous arrangements, parents weren’t allowed into schools to watch their children, but could attend events in public places such as parks.
According to The Times, MSSP’s partnership director, Nicola Ryan, justified the ban by pointing to “too many concerning behaviours” to be able to “accommodate spectators”.
This included cutting across finish lines to get in the way of runners as well as “abuse” directed at officials, which include secondary school pupils, and at other children.
A “stressful environment” for the youngsters taking part was also raised as evidence of the need for the ban, with children placed under too much pressure to perform and win “at all costs”, according to the letter.
Some parents were also challenging event organisers and officials over rules and decisions on top of posting photos online without other parents’ consent.
The letter is reported as stating the decision wasn’t made lightly and it was in the best interest and for the safety or all the children taking part.
School sport partnerships were launched under former prime minister Sir Tony Blair’s Labour government in 2002.
They involve primaries, secondary schools, and special schools joining forces to boost the quality and level of sport offered to youngsters.
Ring-fenced funding was axed from 2011 by the coalition government, with schools able to continue their involvement in SSPs if they chose to.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new approach to school sport in June. The plans aim to give every child in the country equal access to “high-quality” PE and sport.
Merton School Sport Partnership was approached for comment.