THE faces behind a campaign to achieve equality in school sports are thrilled with the Government’s announcement setting out new standards.

On International Women’s Day Wednesday, March 8, the Government set out new standards for equal access to sports, making it clear that girls and boys should be offered the same sports during PE and extracurricular time in schools.

Stacy Hart of the Women’s Equality Party (WE) Basingstoke, professor Eric Anderson of Winchester university, and youngster Katie Allen have said they are thrilled with the news.

Their joint campaign over the last two years started following Katie’s experience of not being allowed to play football in a Basingstoke secondary school and culminated in a rally at Winklebury Football Complex last year.

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Stacy Hart, WE Basingstoke’s branch leader said: “We have demonstrated during our campaign that segregated sports in schools is damaging to all kids, and are thrilled that the Government has taken action on this. Gender stereotyping harms kids’ potential and this is a step forward in addressing that.

"Our campaign on this issue drew huge support from people in Basingstoke who had been prevented from playing sports they love in the past and people who want to see their kids have all possible options open to them now.”

Data collected by Professor Anderson for the campaign showed that boys tend to be offered football, cricket, basketball, and rugby union, whereas girls are offered netball, gymnastics and dance.

As well as the rally last June, WE Basingstoke wrote to all schools urging them to make any necessary changes to their curriculum, promoted Katie's original petition that was debated in parliament, and contributed to the House of Lords call for evidence on sports and recreation, following which their recommendations for change were passed to the department for education.

Professor Anderson added: “This announcement further promotes girls’ and women’s equality in a terrain which has remained unequal for too long.”

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Football Association figures showed that girls playing football the same amount as boys drop from 72 per cent in primary school to 44 per cent in secondary school, and that only 40 per cent of secondary schools offer girls the same after-school club access to football as boys.

Stacy added: “It’s our fervent hope that this announcement is backed up with the funds and assistance necessary for schools to make the infrastructure changes required for this policy to be effective, and we will look to see that this happens locally. WE want Basingstoke schools to be a leader in school sports equality."