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Which are the poshest sports? Which are the poshest sports?
(2 months later)
A report published last week by the education watchdog, Ofsted, looking at the standards of competitive sport at school, claimed that private schools continue to dominate at elite level.A report published last week by the education watchdog, Ofsted, looking at the standards of competitive sport at school, claimed that private schools continue to dominate at elite level.
Chief sport correspondent Owen Gibson wrote:Chief sport correspondent Owen Gibson wrote:
Despite fewer than one in 10 pupils attending fee-paying schools, more than four in 10 of the British athletes who won medals at London 2012 were schooled privately. Alongside the success of state-educated athletes including Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford and cyclist Victoria Pendleton, half the gold medal winners were educated privately, including cyclist Chris Hoy and sailor Ben AinslieDespite fewer than one in 10 pupils attending fee-paying schools, more than four in 10 of the British athletes who won medals at London 2012 were schooled privately. Alongside the success of state-educated athletes including Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford and cyclist Victoria Pendleton, half the gold medal winners were educated privately, including cyclist Chris Hoy and sailor Ben Ainslie
The Ofsted report began by making note of the success of British athletes at the London 2012 Olympics and the way it "brought into sharp focus The Ofsted report began by making note of the success of British athletes at the London 2012 Olympics and the way it "brought into sharp focus the high proportion of English competitors who had been educated in independent schools".
the high proportion of English competitors who
had been educated in independent schools".
As a result, Ofsted commissioned external research into the educational background of those who participate in sports at elite level, with an interest in whether there was a link between the quality of competitive school sport and later sporting success. Its analysis resulted in the following finding:As a result, Ofsted commissioned external research into the educational background of those who participate in sports at elite level, with an interest in whether there was a link between the quality of competitive school sport and later sporting success. Its analysis resulted in the following finding:
Despite state schools educating 86–93% of the Despite state schools educating 86–93% of the population, based on the data we collected, they only produce about two thirds of elite sportspeople across a range of disciplines
population, based on the data we collected, they only The table below shows the results of the research conducted by Ofsted. The report notes that the the London 2012 Paralympics and those currently funded to compete at the elite level in Paralympic sports were the only areas where state school-educated athletes were represented at the levels expected.
produce about two thirds of elite sportspeople across a
range of disciplines
The table below shows the results of the research conducted by Ofsted. The report notes that the the London 2012 Paralympics and those currently funded to compete at the elite level in Paralympic sports were the only areas where state school-educated athletes were
represented at the levels expected.
Which are the poshest sports?Which are the poshest sports?
Ofsted collected data for a range of major Ofsted collected data for a range of major professional and semi-professional sports and examined the type of sport by men and women and the type of school attended. The analysis found that men's rugby union is dominated by players coming from an independent school background - 55% were privately educated, while 39% attended state school and 6% had been schooled at both state and independent institutions.
professional and semi-professional sports and examined the type of sport by men and women and the type of school attended. The analysis found that men's rugby union is dominated by players coming from an independent school background - 55% were privately educated, while 39% attended state school and 6% had been schooled at both state and independent institutions.
Football was the most demographically representative sport, with 94% of English footballers competing in the Premier League having been educated at state schools. It also found that of the English female football players assessed, 97% had been to a state school.Football was the most demographically representative sport, with 94% of English footballers competing in the Premier League having been educated at state schools. It also found that of the English female football players assessed, 97% had been to a state school.
Ofsted also turned its attention to the schooling of British Olympic athletes Ofsted also turned its attention to the schooling of British Olympic athletes who competed at the London 2012 Games. Data was collected for a total of 537 athletes from 29 sports but school data was only available for just less over half of these. Nevertheless, the data provides some interesting insights.
who competed at the London 2012 Games. Data was collected for a Looking at the sports with a 25% school data availability or above, the following findings were noted:
total of 537 athletes from 29 sports but school data was only available for just less over half of these. Nevertheless, the data provides some interesting insights. So, does this tell us which sport is the poshest? Well, it depends how you look at it. If you consider English athletes competing in the national leagues then men's rugby union and women's hockey have the highest percentages of privately educated athletes.
Looking at the sports with a 25%
school data availability or above, the following findings were noted:
So, does this tell us which sport is the poshest? Well, it depends how you look at it. If you consider English athletes competing in the national leagues then men's rugby union and women's hockey have the highest percentages of privately
educated athletes.
If you look at Olympic athletes, which provides a wider (though still not completely comprehensive) scope of sports, then, unsurprisingly, sports traditionally associated as being pursuits of high society such as equestrianism and rowing come top for having a high proportion of privately educated athletes.If you look at Olympic athletes, which provides a wider (though still not completely comprehensive) scope of sports, then, unsurprisingly, sports traditionally associated as being pursuits of high society such as equestrianism and rowing come top for having a high proportion of privately educated athletes.
What about sport scholarships?What about sport scholarships?
Ofsted also looked at the impact of awarding sports scholarships. It found that of the 224 current international athletes that answered its athlete Ofsted also looked at the impact of awarding sports scholarships. It found that of the 224 current international athletes that answered its athlete survey, 33 (15%) had benefitted from some form of sport scholarship when they were at school. Of the 33 scholarships, 16 of these had resulted in athletes being transferred from state to independent schools and only one had done the reverse. The Ofsted analysis shows that overall, rugby union players received the highest proportion of sports scholarships (45%).
survey, 33 (15%) had benefitted from some form of sport scholarship when
they were at school. Of the 33 scholarships, 16 of these had resulted in athletes being transferred from state to independent schools and only one had done the reverse. The Ofsted analysis shows that overall, rugby union players received the highest proportion of sports scholarships (45%).
...and money?...and money?
As part of Ofsted's research into this topic, 10 schools considered to have successful competitive As part of Ofsted's research into this topic, 10 schools considered to have successful competitive school sports programmes were visited. Although Ofsted do admit that the resources invested into competitive sport by these independent schools "have a considerable influence on the success that they achieve", the education watchdog goes on to state that "however, success is not just a result of spending money".
school sports programmes were visited. Although Ofsted do admit that the resources invested into competitive sport by these independent schools "have a considerable influence on the Ofsted also visited 35 state maintained schools and academies "to determine whether the key factors seen in successful independent schools were also prevalent in the state sector" - 10 were chosen because of a reputation for sporting excellence, and 25 schools were randomly selected. Ofsted found that only 15 of the 35 maintained schools and academies - the ten with sporting excellence and five of the 25 randomly selected schools - played high quality competitive sport regularly and were successful in regional and national schools’ competitions.
success that they achieve", the education watchdog goes on to state that "however, success is not just a result of Part of Ofsted's recommendations include schools expecting all students to participate in regular competitive sport and ensuring that there is provision to meet demand as well as making an effort to embed competitive sport firmly in the school culture and ethos.
spending money".
Ofsted also visited 35 state maintained schools and academies "to determine whether the key factors seen in successful
independent schools were also prevalent in the state sector" - 10 were chosen because of a reputation for sporting excellence, and 25
schools were randomly selected. Ofsted found that only 15 of the 35 maintained schools and academies - the ten with sporting excellence and five of the 25 randomly selected schools - played high quality competitive
sport regularly and were successful in regional and national
schools’ competitions.
Part of Ofsted's recommendations include schools expecting all students to participate in regular
competitive sport and ensuring that there is provision to
meet demand as well as making an effort to embed competitive sport firmly in the school culture and ethos.
But as sports writer David Conn points out, the recommendations might well be easier said than done:But as sports writer David Conn points out, the recommendations might well be easier said than done:
The state schools are urged to have the same commitment and give sport as high a priority. Then, they are told, their children could have "the same opportunities to excel as those in the independent sector". This is a fantasy, certainly in the Olympic pursuits of rowing, sailing, equestrianism and the triathlon, but also in mainstream sports such as cricket, squash and tennis, which most pupils will never have the opportunity to try at any level of quality in state schools. In Ofsted's summaries of the independent schools they visited, there is no mention of the fees or facilities, let alone a properly researched picture of the financial realitiesThe state schools are urged to have the same commitment and give sport as high a priority. Then, they are told, their children could have "the same opportunities to excel as those in the independent sector". This is a fantasy, certainly in the Olympic pursuits of rowing, sailing, equestrianism and the triathlon, but also in mainstream sports such as cricket, squash and tennis, which most pupils will never have the opportunity to try at any level of quality in state schools. In Ofsted's summaries of the independent schools they visited, there is no mention of the fees or facilities, let alone a properly researched picture of the financial realities
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