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| Exam pressure hurting summer sports, says Mike Gatting | Exam pressure hurting summer sports, says Mike Gatting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The ever-growing pressure on exam results is making it harder for summer sports in schools, says former England cricket captain Mike Gatting. | The ever-growing pressure on exam results is making it harder for summer sports in schools, says former England cricket captain Mike Gatting. |
| "The exams cause an awful lot of problems for sport," said Mr Gatting - particularly those summer sports that clashed with the exam season. | "The exams cause an awful lot of problems for sport," said Mr Gatting - particularly those summer sports that clashed with the exam season. |
| Despite calls for more sport in schools, he said, there was a "huge drop off" among 14-to-15-year-olds. | |
| Mr Gatting is taking part in a week promoting cricket in schools. | Mr Gatting is taking part in a week promoting cricket in schools. |
| The former Ashes winner visited George Eliot primary school, near enough to Lord's cricket ground in London to be almost in range of a decent six. | The former Ashes winner visited George Eliot primary school, near enough to Lord's cricket ground in London to be almost in range of a decent six. |
| Mr Gatting, an ambassador for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), was promoting cricket in schools, in advance of the Ashes Test series, beginning next month. | Mr Gatting, an ambassador for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), was promoting cricket in schools, in advance of the Ashes Test series, beginning next month. |
| But Mr Gatting said there were conflicting messages about sport. | But Mr Gatting said there were conflicting messages about sport. |
| "We want to push sports in this country," he said, as a way of tackling obesity and to give young people "a chance to get some self-esteem". | "We want to push sports in this country," he said, as a way of tackling obesity and to give young people "a chance to get some self-esteem". |
| But he said pupils, parents and schools were under relentless pressure to prioritise exam results. | |
| The teenage years were when sportsmen and women really developed their skills, he said. | The teenage years were when sportsmen and women really developed their skills, he said. |
| "That's when they really learn, but they're all doing exams - and quite rightly their parents want them to be the very best they can be," he said. | "That's when they really learn, but they're all doing exams - and quite rightly their parents want them to be the very best they can be," he said. |
| Mr Gatting added it was not only state schools facing this difficult balancing act. | Mr Gatting added it was not only state schools facing this difficult balancing act. |
| Independent schools were "finding it difficult with sports - instead of running four or five teams, a lot of them are running one or two", he said. | Independent schools were "finding it difficult with sports - instead of running four or five teams, a lot of them are running one or two", he said. |
| It was even harder for team sports that took more time, practice and organisation, he said, including cricket. | It was even harder for team sports that took more time, practice and organisation, he said, including cricket. |
| He suggested one solution might be to move the exam season away from the summer months. | He suggested one solution might be to move the exam season away from the summer months. |
| Mr Gatting, instead of fielding cricket balls, was fielding questions from pupils at George Eliot school. | Mr Gatting, instead of fielding cricket balls, was fielding questions from pupils at George Eliot school. |
| He told them he owed the start of his own playing career to a primary school teacher - a Mrs Collister, who came from Sri Lanka and began to teach cricket in the playground. | He told them he owed the start of his own playing career to a primary school teacher - a Mrs Collister, who came from Sri Lanka and began to teach cricket in the playground. |
| "She helped us put a team together - we had our first match, against Stonebridge Park at the Neasden Recreation ground, my first game and my first 100," he said. | "She helped us put a team together - we had our first match, against Stonebridge Park at the Neasden Recreation ground, my first game and my first 100," he said. |
| Mr Gatting went on to play for Middlesex and England, and he said that his single favourite match was the 1981 Ashes victory at Headingley. | Mr Gatting went on to play for Middlesex and England, and he said that his single favourite match was the 1981 Ashes victory at Headingley. |
| He added that even though this match was remembered for Ian Botham's contribution, more credit should have been given to the fast bowler Bob Willis. | He added that even though this match was remembered for Ian Botham's contribution, more credit should have been given to the fast bowler Bob Willis. |
| His least favourite cricket memory was losing to Australia in Perth in 1995 - his final Test match for England. | His least favourite cricket memory was losing to Australia in Perth in 1995 - his final Test match for England. |
| The schools' cricket week has been launched by the Chance to Shine charity, which promotes cricket in schools and in local communities. | The schools' cricket week has been launched by the Chance to Shine charity, which promotes cricket in schools and in local communities. |
| It has an accompanying free interactive resource, the 2015 Ashes Schools Challenge, also supported by the MCC and ECB. | It has an accompanying free interactive resource, the 2015 Ashes Schools Challenge, also supported by the MCC and ECB. |
| And Mr Gatting said the current England cricket team should be an inspiration after their swashbuckling performances against New Zealand. | And Mr Gatting said the current England cricket team should be an inspiration after their swashbuckling performances against New Zealand. |
| "If this series against New Zealand doesn't capture the imagination - I don't know what will," he said. | "If this series against New Zealand doesn't capture the imagination - I don't know what will," he said. |
| "I haven't seen cricket like that ever on such a consistent basis. It's been absolutely fantastic. It's gone up to a new level." | |
| Mr Gatting said England's positive performance against New Zealand had also given him a lot more confidence about their chances in the Ashes series. | Mr Gatting said England's positive performance against New Zealand had also given him a lot more confidence about their chances in the Ashes series. |
| "It was almost as if the shackles have been taken off," he said. | "It was almost as if the shackles have been taken off," he said. |