School sport is in an era of unprecedented change. Many of the assumptions which have applied for nearly 100 years are under threat from a variety of pressures. New parental expectations, changing attitudes to team games, emerging sports and exercise opportunities all increase demands on Directors of Sport. Current and proposed political threats also influence the place of sport: there are pressures to consolidate provision and cut costs – alongside an acute awareness that sport is one of the points of difference that the independent sector offers. It is central to the business case.
This combination of factors presents various pressures to school sport and its leaders. Firstly, there is a greater drive than ever to ensure an excellent, inclusive, imaginative and efficient offering. Second is the need to exist within a collaborative eco-system, working with other schools, government and national sports bodies, to ensure that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. It is not a good time to be an outlier.
This year’s PADSIS Scotland Conference seeks to address these issues and to equip Directors of Sport with the knowledge, skills and industry awareness to ensure they can navigate the new school year with confidence.
