School sport requires a significant workforce to ensure a vibrant co-curricular provision. The historic assumption of staff contribution based upon goodwill and generous discretionary effort is in terminal decline. There are pockets of good health, but the general trend is a downwards one. This results partly from changing attitudes to what constitutes reasonable overall demands of the job and partly from perception of fairness. Activities with a high expectation of time commitment, especially those that take place at weekends and in holidays, are under greatest pressure. The business case of independent education depends heavily on the richness of its opportunities...

School sport requires a significant workforce to ensure a vibrant co-curricular provision. The historic assumption of staff contribution based upon goodwill and generous discretionary effort is in terminal decline. There are pockets of good health, but the general trend is a downwards one. This results partly from changing attitudes to what constitutes reasonable overall demands of the job and partly from perception of fairness. Activities with a high expectation of time commitment, especially those that take place at weekends and in holidays, are under greatest pressure. The business case of independent education depends heavily on the richness of its opportunities...

Saturday fixtures have existed in schools as long as sport has been a feature. Initially a way of filling time in boarding schools, they were enthusiastically embraced by day schools, and have an unbroken history going back more than 100 years. They survived intact when many schools abandoned Saturday morning lessons, and still thrive in many environments. The keenest pupils continue to value the opportunity, enjoy the bus ride and participate enthusiastically with their friends. However, there are constant pressures that increase incrementally, and will influence the future shape of this programme.

The honour of selection is not what...