Mindful of current concerns about child obesity and the lack of outdoor play opportunities for children, I have been interested in how the current school expansions affected the play space available to children when at school. Following a Freedom of Information request I now have the figures which are tabulated below.
These show an overall reduction in the space (expressed in square metres) available per child after expansion. I have left out those for Mugas (Multi-use games areas) as these are likely to be used per class or after school activity, rather than shared. Clearly however access will be less because more classes will have to be timetabled to use it within the confines of the school day.
The amount of playground space available at break times and lunch times is of major concern. Recent research has shown that children use more energy then than when they take part in PE activities. The reduction in play space can be addressed by staggering break times so that different phases or year groups use the playground at different times, but this then reduces the time for their use for class games activities.
Over crowded playgrounds restrict the amount of space for 'tearing about' and using up surplus energy as well as increasing the number of collisions, bumps and scrapes. Competition for space, unless well supervised, can lead to more playground fights.
Mitchell Brook Primary has the additional resource of Gibbons Recreation Ground which it backs onto, but the other schools are less fortunate.
PLAY SPACE IN SCHOOLS SCHEDULED FOR EXPANSION (square metres to nearest 0.5)
FRYENT
|
Existing
(420 pupils)
|
Per pupil
|
Proposed
(840 pupils)
|
Per pupil after expansion
|
Habitat
|
262
|
310
|
||
Hard Play/Games Courts
|
2447
|
6.0
|
3325
|
4.0
|
Pitches/Soft Play
|
6714
|
16.0
|
4974
|
6.0
|
Muga
|
360
|
360
|
||
BARHAM
|
Existing
(630 pupils)
|
Proposed
(840 pupils)
|
||
Habitat
|
Playing field edge
|
Playing field edge
|
||
Hard Play/Games Courts
|
2501
|
4.0
|
3254
|
4.0
|
Pitches/Soft Play
|
4748
|
7.5
|
3713
|
4.5
|
Muga
|
254
|
254
|
||
MITCHELL BROOK
|
Existing
(420 pupils)
|
Proposed
(630 pupils)
|
||
Hard Play/Games Courts
|
3773
|
9.0
|
2738
|
4.5
|
