Headteachers in Basildon have supported culture secretary Tessa Jowell's call for schools to maintain competitive sport.
Her comments follow a decision by a school in the Midlands to ban parents from their sports day to spare children's embarrassment if they did not win.
Mrs Jowell said it was political correctness gone too far and competitive sport was crucial in the development of children. Mary Gibbons, acting deputy headteacher of Pitsea Junior School, said: "We take sports very seriously. We believe it's important for children to learn how to win and lose and that is achieved well through sport.
Competitive streak : sports assistant at Pitsea Junior School Debbie MacDonald blows her whistle to start the sprinters
"You have to be inclusive and make sure some children have the chance to compete in group activities so they don't lose all the time."
Jonathan Oddy, head of Basildon's Barstable School, said: "As far as we're concerned learning about winning and losing is important."
Published Monday, May 26, 2003
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