YOUNGSTERS in Colchester are receiving some of the best sports and physical education teaching in the country, it has been revealed.

About 95 per cent of youngsters in Colchester are receiving at least two hours of top quality PE and sports lessons every week, up from just 28 per cent five years ago, at a time when childhood obesity is on the rise.

The group credited with the rise, the Colchester-Blackwater School Sport Partnership, has been ranked in the top ten of 450 partnerships across England.

The partnership, based at Thurstable School Sports College in Tiptree, offers support to 12 secondary schools in Colchester and Maldon, which in turn help out 71 primary schools, with special schools and further education colleges also involved.

Help offered by the partnership, using Government money and grants from other sources, includes training for staff to improve lessons, frequent competitions and festivals at schools to get more youngsters enjoying different sports and teaching children how to officiate, marshal and lead sports sessions.

Staff also offer after-hours classes ranging from dancing to climbing, and link up with sports clubs to help talented stars make the step up.

Development manager Chris Taylor said he wanted to thank teachers, co-ordinators, coaches and administration staff for all their efforts, which have also helped the partnership receive a Partnership Mark, for providing at least 90 per cent of pupils with two hours of good sports education a week.

“We’re really pleased we’ve been ranked in the top ten in the country for school partnerships,” he said. “We’re going to aim for top three in the country next year.”