SCHOOLS NEED SPACE TO PLAY!!!

New playing space rules opposed Critics warn new rules on outdoor space for pupils in England to do PE will make it easier for schools to sell off playing fields. http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-19263693

In a country with a growing population it is difficult to see that any selling off of school sports facilities is justified. Surely schools should be allowed to expand existing facilities through government funding? Obviously there will be some exceptions where schools are closed or moved to a different site but the whole concept of selling any sports fields seems to me to be absolute nonsense. Changing labels to talk of ‘outdoor space’ is just another way to make them fit for sale. If the statistics below are correct then this situation needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency:

1. ..an estimated 10,000 playing fields were disposed of between 1979 and 1997 when the Conservatives were in power.

2. 213 playing fields were approved for sale between 1999 and April 2010, under the last Labour government.

3. The education secretary had approved the sale of 21 school sports fields in the past two years.

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