JCCM Jane Cowmeadow Communications and Management

Jessica Ennis launches the AVIVA Elevating Athletics initiative

Apr 23, 09:54 AM

Hundreds of thousands of children are set to benefit from better athletics tuition in schools, as insurance giant Aviva today launched an ‘Elevating Athletics Fund’, pledging to provide practical training and support to every single sports teacher in the UK. With London 2012 just over two years away, leading athletics sponsor Aviva is taking action after new research revealed that over half of the UK’s PE teachers feel they need further training and better facilities to teach athletics effectively.

Backed by World Champion Heptathlete Jessica Ennis, the move is a direct response to a study conducted by Aviva, which revealed that:

• 52% of teachers feel they need further training to teach athletics effectively
• 63% of teachers believe their schools lack the facilities to teach athletics effectively
• Two thirds of teachers admit that in the build up to London 2012, there will be more emphasis on athletics in their schools
• Nine out of 10 teachers actively plan to use London 2012 to inspire children to get active and participate in sport
• 93% of teachers take the view that elite sportspeople play an important role in inspiring children to get involved in sport

As part of Aviva’s long term partnership with UK Athletics (UKA) they have committed to giving every child in the UK the opportunity to get involved in athletics by 2012. Aviva’s Elevating Athletics Fund will provide support in three ways; free places on athletics teaching courses for every school in the UK (over 30,000 schools), detailed curriculum resource packs for all teachers and the chance for schools to win a £10,000 sports grant for facility upgrades. Aviva will also arrange a series of elite athlete visits to schools, to help inspire students.

Jessica Ennis, World Heptathlon Champion said: “I will never forget my school PE teachers Mr Eccles and Mr Cockgreves as they gave me such great support and encouragement. It’s really important that we recognise the important role that PE teachers play in getting children involved, and continuing their interest, in sport. I’m proud to be working with Aviva to give teachers the tools they need to teach the basics of athletics in schools and hope that this will help inspire the next generation to develop a passion for athletics”