School sport deserves sporting experts

Let’s be honest, school sport has so much potential, something I have seen personally in my earlier career, but too often it feels like an afterthought – a slot on the timetable, a box to tick… And while well-meaning teachers try their best to deliver, we’re missing a huge trick by not bringing in the right people to lead the charge – sporting experts.

I’m talking about trained coaches, former athletes, sports scientists: people who live and breathe sport. They understand the nuances of performance, motivation, injury prevention, and how to build a winning team culture, not just how to referee a netball match, because they were asked to at the last minute.

Sport is more than just PE

Sport in schools isn’t just about getting pupils to run around. It’s about teaching them how to work as a team, how to deal with failure, how to show up even when they’re tired, and how to push through challenges – all skills they’ll use far beyond school.

But for pupils to really get these lessons, the person in charge needs to know what they’re doing – passion alone isn’t enough.

Who’s the best person to lead this?

That’s where recruitment comes in. If we want school sport to have a real impact, we have to stop defaulting to the nearest teacher with a football kit.

When a qualified coach walks into a school, something shifts. They see things differently, they structure training properly, they know how to build an athlete, whether that pupil wants to play at a high level or just feel good about themselves on a pitch; they bring energy, inspiration and experience – we all know the difference.

Pupils respond to someone who’s been there, who talks the language of sport, who’s passionate about developing them as both players and people. This kind of leadership raises the bar for everyone, from your future Olympians to the pupils just trying to find their confidence.

Teachers and coaches can work together

Let’s be clear, this isn’t a bash on teachers, far from it! There are some incredible PE teachers who really do make the best leaders, who do an amazing job with limited resources and time. But we don’t ask maths teachers to moonlight as counsellors, so why do we expect Sport to be led by someone who isn’t trained in coaching?

There’s room for both. The ideal school sport setup? A partnership. Teachers handling the educational and pastoral sides, while expert coaches bring in the technical know-how and passion that can really ignite a program.

We’re playing the long game

Bringing in sporting professionals isn’t just about winning trophies – although that’s nice too – it’s about creating a culture where physical activity is valued, where students are proud of their teams, where young people feel supported and inspired.

And let’s not forget the bigger picture — better sport means better attendance, better mental health, better outcomes in the classroom. It’s all connected.

So, what now?

It’s time to rethink how we approach school sport. Hire the coach. Bring in the specialist. Invest in the program. Because when we get school sport right, we’re not just building athletes, we’re building better people.

Anderson Quigley has a track record in hiring Directors of Sport, in the UK and internationally, partnering with schools and higher education institutions to think differently. If you’d like to hear about our experience, or would like support and advice with your team, please contact Hayley Mintern at hayley.mintern@andersonquigley.com.