£359,084 awarded in Year 2 of the Opening Schools Facilities (OSF) programme

The Opening Schools Facilities (OSF) programme, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), aims to enhance the utilisation of school sports facilities to benefit both students and the wider community. The second year of the OSF programme, running from April 2023 to March 2024, focused on expanding access to school facilities, particularly in underserved communities. The programme’s goals included driving youth-informed community activities, upskilling schools for long-term facility use, and providing accessible and meaningful physical activities. 

Schools were targeted based on criteria such as free school meals and the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) data. The selection process also considered the schools’ locations and community assets. In Year 2, 30 schools received funding totalling £359,084 with an additional 23 schools from Year 1 continuing their projects after initial investment. 

The programme has funded 61 projects across 30 schools, resulting in 441 additional hours of free or affordable activities per week. These projects targeted various groups (% projects that targeted audience), including children eligible for free school meals (69%), those with special educational needs and disabilities (74%), ethnically diverse communities (11%), and girls (62%).

“Giving the pupils the opportunity to experience success in athletic movements with the indoor equipment has increased many pupils confidence and led to increased communication and social skills. It is clear that a number of pupils have increased their motivation to learn and to participate positively in learning as a result of experiencing success with the indoor athletics.”  

OSF School

OSF is in its final year of delivery currently, with a further 24 schools being funded to extend existing activity and develop new opportunities to ensure young people and wider community have access to school facilities to be more active. 

Learn about the impact OSF is having across the country via Active Partnerships along with reading about a Hertfordshire based project.

If you have any further questions on OSF, please contact Chris Samways, c.samways@herts.ac.uk