Wolverhampton College is Top for Sport
City of Wolverhampton College has been named best in the West Midlands for its sports provision in a government survey.
The college hit the top spot for its work in getting as many young people as possible involved in sport.
Last year, 17% of all full-time students aged 16 to 19 took part in at least one of the 612 different sports events that took place at the college.
The college was ranked top in the region in the government’s annual PE and Sports Survey, which sets out to monitor levels of participation in PE and out of hours school sport.
Colleges were judged against nine different factors including the number of sports on offer, links with sports clubs and how many students took part in activities.
City of Wolverhampton College raced ahead with a total of 30 points out of a possible 36, with Hereford Sixth Form College, with 27 points, coming second.
Stratford-Upon-Avon College, with 10 points, came bottom of the table.
The survey forms part of a government strategy to ensure that by 2011 all young people aged between 16 and 19 are offered at least three hours of sport every week.
Ben Bulleyment, Development Manager for the Youth Sport Trust, which is working with Sports England to deliver the strategy, said: “Wolverhampton College have really embraced the work undertaken in the region around increasing opportunity for their students to work towards the three hour offer target.
“The range of sporting activities on offer to students is vast and is a reflection of all the hard work the college has promoted and delivered around the strategy. This work will not only contribute to the health of the students but will also support their progress through college life and into the community."
Earl Laird, Director of Faculty of Health, Hospitality and Leisure at the college, added: “We are very proud of the quality of our sports provision, which includes a wide range of sports from cheerleading to basketball.
“Hundreds of our students are benefitting from our new Sports Community Centre, and with our Football Development Centre and full size pitch set to be operational next month we looking forward to encouraging more young people to take up sport.”