Research by Kirkwood pupils identified a lack of organisation and co-ordination of sport for intermediate age children. Reports from the Hillary Commission support the Kirkwood pupil’s findings, and also that this is a crucial age for children to begin taking part in organised sport.

The Kirkwood research found that students want more coaches, more teams, a wider variety of sports and opportunities to play new sports. At present the overall co-ordination of sport at Kirkwood is the responsibility of one teacher.

the Kirkwood pupils’ ‘big idea’ was to establish a school sports co-ordinator for intermediate schools. The ‘big idea’ was presented to the Riccarton-Wigram Community Board, which was in favour but regards an initiative such as this as primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Education.

The Community Board has committed to work with Kirkwood to develop and present the proposal to the Ministry and the Hillary Commission.