Sport’s top 100 earners are all male
Not a single woman features on the list of the 100 highest-earning sportspeople published annually by Forbes, the US business magazine.
It is the first time the list has been entirely masculine since Forbes began compiling an extended version in 2010. Serena Williams was the only female athlete to make the top 100 last year, but she took almost 12 months off to have a baby. Jo Pavey, the former British distance runner, described the list as “sad and disappointing”.
SCHOOLS cannot be expected to solve the child obesity crisis, the Ofsted chief will say today.
There is “no doubt” that childhood obesity poses a “serious public health challenge” but teachers must not be held responsible for tackling it, Amanda Spielman is to say.
Addressing the Bryanston Education Summit in Dorset, Ms Spielman will tell delegates that schools cannot be left to fix all the “complex societal issues” facing young people.
Her comments come as Downing Street prepares to unveil its national child obesity strategy. It has been reported that proposals could include pupils being weighed and measured every year by their teachers.
Ms Spielman will say: “There are a great many pressing public policy concerns affecting young people.
“Many undoubtedly require government intervention and multifaceted solutions. But they cannot all fall to schools, and they are often completely inappropriate for measuring at inspection.”
Schools are under pressure to reduce the amount of sugar and other unhealthy products in lunches provided to pupils. Latest figures show one in five children is obese by the time they leave primary school.
Ms Spielman will tell delegates that she “almost choked” at the suggestion that inspectors should take account of children’s weight in judging schools.
“There is no doubt that childhood obesity is a serious public health challenge,” she will tell the summit. “But obesity is a complex societal issue that requires more than a blunt response.”
She will say that obesity is one of many examples where schools are “expected to address each of society’s ills and inspection is supposed to be the tool to ensure they do it”.
During visits, inspectors need to focus on the quality of education in a safe environment. Imposing additional duties on inspectors will only “detract” from this, she will say. Figures published this week reveal that more than 22,000 children will leave primary school dangerously obese this year.
The number of 10- and 11-year-olds classed as severely obese in the final year of primary school is nearly double that of those in reception.
Deprived areas are particularly affected, with double the proportion of obese children.
NHS figures show obesity levels have risen two years running for children starting school, despite repeated pledges by ministers and health officials to take action.
The Government’s first child obesity strategy came out in August 2016 but was heavily criticised by campaigners after being significantly watered down.
The number of children who will leave primary school at the end of the summer term in a ‘dangerously obese’ state