CAMPAIGNERS fighting for gender equality in school sports have made a step forward in their mission after the House of Lords recommended that guidance should be issued to schools.

As previously reported, Basingstoke Women’s Equality Party (WEP) teamed up with Sherfield School pupil Katie Allen to launch a petition calling on the government to make equal sporting opportunities for all genders in schools a legal requirement.

Read more: Women's Equality Party joins schoolgirl's fight for gender equality in sport

The petition gained more than 10,000 signatures.

Katie joined forces with Professor Eric Anderson of Winchester University WEP to send an open letter to the secretaries of state for education and digital, culture, media, and sport, arguing in favour of gender equality in school sport.

Among the signatories were Manchester United and England footballers Abbie McManus, Ella Toone, and Kirsty Smith, along with experts from Winchester, Chichester, Solent, and Bath Spa universities.

Their actions have finally paid off after the House of Lords recommended that the Department for Education should include guidance for schools to ensure that all pupils can try a wide range of sports and activities.

The local campaigners are now planning to write to Basingstoke schools this spring to ask that they get ahead of impending government strictures and move forward proactively by pledging to offer every sport they teach to all children, regardless of gender.

Both the Basingstoke branch of WEP, Katie, and Prof Anderson were cited in the House of Lords report on the National Plan for Sport, Health and Wellbeing.

Stacy Hart, WE Basingstoke branch leader, said: ““Our submission to the House of Lords laid out the damaging effects of gender segregated sports in schools. Gender stereotyping harms kids’ potential and their mental and physical health, and there’s no reason that all kids shouldn’t be offered all sports in a simple move to combat this. I’m delighted that we’ve been cited in the report and that the Lords’ recommendations reflect our campaign.”

Prof Anderson said schools implementing change now would be a “hugely positive move ahead of England’s hosting of the UEFA Women’s Euros this summer”.

Data collected from 288 English secondary schools, following a Freedom of Information request by Prof Anderson revealed that many of the top 10 activities delivered to each sex are the same, but that boys tend to be offered football, cricket, basketball, and rugby union, whereas girls are offered netball, gymnastics, and dance.

Stacy said: “Getting rid of outdated stereotypes genuinely has a huge benefit to society and can often be achieved with simple changes. This change would enable all kids to be themselves, whether they’re girls wanting to play football or boys who want to dance. WE will be campaigning on this issue and many similar ones in the run up to the May local elections, because equality really is better for everyone.”

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