In-depth consultation is currently underway in Blackpool as part of a project to draw together the Borough's PE and School Sport Strategy.

Knight Kavanagh & Page has been appointed by the Council to prepare a strategy that is visionary and ambitious, but grounded and achievable. A dynamic process will be undertaken to ensure that the end result dovetails with other strategies in place or emerging in the Borough and that it results in practical, measurable outcomes.

KKP will meet with key partners; from PDMs and portfolio holders to primary head teachers and directors of specialism at Blackpool's sports colleges. Those involved in delivery of PE and school sport across the borough will have the opportunity to contribute to and shape the future strategy. Stakeholders from wider industry agencies such as Lancashire Sport and the Youth Sport Trust will also be involved in the consultation process.

This consultation will help to shape a draft 3-5 year strategy that will be refined and developed at focus groups prior to adding specific key performance measures. It will be published in the Spring, along with a detailed action plan for delivery.

As experts in this field, KKP is in an ideal position to deliver this strategy. In 1999 the Company developed the County's first Sport and Physical Education strategy. More recently it has developed innovative PE and school sport strategies for local authorities and county sports partnerships across the Country, for clients including Sunderland and Merseyside. It also prepared Lancashire Sport's current ‘Evolving Sport' strategy. It has, concurrently, been commissioned by Sport England for the third consecutive year to evaluate the success of the Governments School-Club Links initiative.

Adrian Leather, Chief Executive at Lancashire Sport welcomes KKP's appointment. He said, "KKP's work on strategy development is highly regarded across the County and it has been influential in delivery of extended schools, school-club links and driving co-ordinated working. I am confident that it will continue to stimulate the future development of PE and School Sport at regional and local level."

For further details, please contact Louise Hunsley, Consultant, Email: louise.hunsley@kkp.co.uk .