MICHAEL Gove's announcement that funding will continue for the school sports system he previously pledged to scrap is not the major U-turn it has been billed.

That is the view of Cath Kilburn, who runs the school sports partnership (SSP) based at South Dartmoor community college, Ashburton.

Before Christmas, the education secretary announced that he had found £112m to ensure the continuation of the £162m a year system. The minister was forced into making the U-turn after an outcry from schools, Olympic sportspeople and, it was said, members of his own cabinet.

But Ms Kilburn said the reprieve disguised the fact that jobs will still be lost and sporting opportunities for youngsters will be curtailed.

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