A Playing Pitch Strategy for Insert Name

To: Headteachers of Primary Schools in Devon

Date as postmark/email

Dear Headteacher

PITCHING IT RIGHT FOR DEVON! DEVON PLAYING PITCH AND OUTDOOR COURTS STUDY

We are writing for your kind assistance in a study of playing pitches and outdoor courts which we have recently been commissioned to undertake by Devon County Council. The aim is to establish the adequacy of playing pitch facilities within Devon and the findings will be used to help set local planning policies and standards, inform management plans, support funding bids and inform the forthcoming BSF programme. We are considering grass pitches, artificial turf provision and multi use games areas and courts.

As playing pitches at schools and colleges are an essential part of the picture of provision – both now and in the future - we wish to ensure that information in the survey is as accurate and comprehensive as possible. A considerable amount of information already exists but we would particularly like to:

verify and update information on pitches etc, including a brief assessment of condition
review the adequacy of your school’s playing pitches and courts to meet your own needs
review the extent of use by the local community (sports clubs and sports development work)
record any other issues, including aspirations and proposals for new facilities

We would be very grateful for any information you are able to supply. We attach a short questionnaire which presents the information we would like to obtain. If you have received this by email, the form can be completed online and just returned to , or if printed out (or sent to you by post), please return to:

Freepost RRRR-TUTY-KYKH

Mrs Kate Vine, 34 Moor View, Chudleigh, NewtonAbbot, TQ13 0JB

We would be most grateful to receive your response byMonday 8thFebruary 2010.

If you have any queries at all regarding this Survey, please contact Kevin Bennett

(Consultation Manager), on 01626 333308 We are working to a small Steering Group, including Jill Borrow, Sports Development Officer and Steve Kibble at Devon County Council.

Many thanks. We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Bennett

Consultation Manager

Bennett Leisure & Planning Ltd

DEVONPLAYING PITCH STUDY

SURVEY OF PRIMARY SCHOOLPITCH AND COURT FACILITIES/Winter 2009

Q1Please state the name of your Primary school:……………………………………………………..

Q2How many pupils does your school have?Boys……………….Girls……………………

Q3Please give contact name and number / e-mail of person completing questionnaire

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

SPORTING FACILITIES AT YOUR SCHOOL

Q4Which of the following pitches does your school own? (please state number and whether floodlit)

No. / Floodlit? / No. / Floodlit?
Mini-soccer pitch / Cricket pitch (grass wicket)
Junior football pitch / Cricket pitch (artificial wicket)
Adult football pitch / Grass hockey pitch
Junior rugby pitch / Artificial turf pitch
Adult rugby pitch / Generic grass field

Q5Please list briefly other outdoor multi use games or court areas (e.g. tennis/basketball)

Type of surface / Area in hectares or sq.m. or in number of courts etc / Line markings (if any) and equipment/floodlights

Q6Please briefly summarise the condition of the above facilities as either good,

satisfactory or poor and add comments if appropriate.

Facility / Condition / Comments

Q7Please list any other (i.e. off-site) pitches or outdoor courts which are used by the school for, for example, PE lessons, school home matches or training/coaching?(please give details i.e. name, location, sports and frequency of use)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

USE OF YOUR SPORTS FACILITIES BY OUTSIDE SPORTING GROUPS

Q8aDo any of the playing pitches or outdoor courts under school management have any community use/dual-use agreements for their use by the wider community?

Yes No

It would be helpful to know which type of written agreement (A-E) exists for this community use. The definition of ‘Secured Community Use’ is a facility which ‘is available for use by the community and whose future use is secured for the foreseeable future by one or more of the following’:

AA formal community use agreement

BA leasing / management arrangement between the School and LEA requiring the facilities

to be available to the community

CA policy of community use minuted by the School or LEA, including tariff of charges, etc

DMinutes of the Board of School Governors allowing use of facilities by the community; or

EWritten commitment from the School to the current community users/team(s) using the

facilities

Q8bPlease state which of the above applies.

Name/Type of Sports Facility
(e.g. football pitches, courts) / Type of Agreement (e.g. A, B, C, D or E). (Write ‘none’ or ’Don’t know’ if applicable)

Q9Please give brief detail of any use by the general public of your school’s facilities for sporting or fitness purposes (this may include casual individual use, use by clubs or use for courses which are available to the public).

Name of club/group / Sport/Activity/Facility / Approx. frequency and
time/day of use

Q10Are there any changing facilities available for use by outside groups? Yes No

Further details………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Q11Do you have requests from outside groups/clubs for the use of your pitches and courts which cannot be accommodated?

Yes No Don’t know

Further details………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Q12Do you have any ‘spare capacity’ i.e. times when your pitches and courts are not being used when you would be happy for additional outside use to take place?

Yes No Don’t know

Further details………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Q13Would your school consider opening up (other) sports facilities for community use in the future?

Yes No Don’t know

Any comments……………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Q14Are there any improvements to, or additional, sporting facilities required at your

school?

Yes No Don’t know

If YES please give details, if these are being planned or carried out at present please state stage reached

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMPLETING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE

Please either email to , or return in own envelope if printed out from the email to:

Freepost RRRR-TUTY-KYKH, Mrs Kate Vine, 34 Moor View,Chudleigh, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 0JB.