PROTESTS from schools over cuts to sports funding have triggered a rethink by Government ministers.

Last week, Vale teachers spoke out against an announcement by the Government it was slashing the budget for the South Worcestershire School Sports Partnership because they feared it could wipe out a decade of progress. But Prime Minister David Cameron has ordered ministers to look again at the proposals.

Sam Hook, partnership development manager for South Worcestershire School Sports Partnership, said she was delighted by the news.

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic that the Government is listening to the people actually doing the job,” she said. “It’s important for the impact it will have on the children. It’s just a shame they didn’t do that in the first place.

“A lot more children are taking part in more activities more regularly because of the partnership.”

Since the partnership was launched, participation rates for two hours of PE and sport a week have increased from 66 per cent in 2005 to 88 per cent in 2008 - an improvement of more than 1,500 young people.

And almost 5,000 pupils in Evesham and Pershore’s first, primary, middle and high schools currently take part in three hours of activities a week.

Meanwhile, the Vale’s high schools are facing another funding battle with planned cuts to bring sixth forms in line with colleges.

According to the Education White Paper, full-time sixth form students are funded at £280 more than students in further education colleges and the Government wants to remove this difference.

Bernard Roberts, headteacher at Prince Henry’s High School, said the move was not “justifiable”.

“It’s going to be hard for schools and sixth from colleges,” he said.

“It’s not as if sixth forms are funded especially generously. Unfortunately it’s a difficult time and we have to manage it the best we can.

“The dilemma the school heads will have is to manage to put in minority subjects. For us, we have a big sixth form and don’t have that many minority subjects where there are only one or two students. We don’t want to see things like modern languages or music.

“We have had some indications [of the cuts] but we won’t actually know until the Government makes further announcements later in December or January.

“At the moment, we’re sitting tight and not being naive and just planning how we can manage and continue to offer high quality education.