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1 December 2010
Last updated at 09:12 ET
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David Cameron hinted at the U-turn at prime minister's questions
David Cameron has ordered a rethink on plans to cut funding for school sports after concern "at local level", Downing Street has said.
Mr Cameron's spokesman said the PM had asked Education Secretary Michael Gove to look again at the decision.
Mr Gove says the current system is mired in red tape and must change but Mr Cameron indicated a possible U-turn at prime minister's questions.
Labour said there had been a "grassroots revolt" against the plans.
In reply to a question from former sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe, Mr Cameron said he was "looking carefully at the debate that was held yesterday" and would make an announcement soon.
Downing Street said the decision to cut school sports funding had been revisited because "there is some recognition this is being raised at local level".
When asked about a timescale for a change in the policy, the spokesman said "they are looking at it now".
It is thought that any decision will not be taken until local government funding settlements are finalised later this month.
'Change in tone' BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the fact that Mr Sutcliffe had asked Mr Cameron "rather gently" at PMQs whether he would he look again at the issue of school sports again was unusual and suggested there was going to be a change of policy.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
Shadow education secretary Andy Burnham welcomed what he said was "a huge change in tone" since a debate on the issue was held in Parliament on Tuesday - in which the plans were repeatedly attacked by Labour MPs.
"Michael Gove's decision to scrap school sports partnerships has sparked a remarkable grassroots revolt, uniting people right across the country," he said.
"It seems they now admit that they got it wrong and that school sports partnerships have been a success.
"This apparent change of heart is welcome and will give a glimmer of hope to the thousands of young people, head teachers and athletes who have called on the government to reverse their decision to scrap schools sports partnerships."
Backlash Mr Burnham has agreed to work with the government to help preserve the existing structure of school co-ordinators while acknowledging the system could be run more efficiently.
"The ball is now in Mr Cameron and Mr Gove's court," he added.
The rethink follows a growing backlash against the plans to end £162m in direct funding for the 450 partnerships, programmes spanning primary, secondary and specialist schools as well as sports colleges and designed to increase sporting opportunities for children.
More than 70 top British athletes, including Olympic heptathlete champion Denise Lewis and world diving champion Tom Daley, wrote to Mr Cameron saying the policy was "ill-conceived" and risked efforts to deliver a "genuine legacy" from the Olympics in terms of encouraging sports participation.
Labour leader Ed Miliband challenged David Cameron over the issue last week and said the prime minister would "live to regret" his suggestion in Parliament that the partnerships had not succeeded in boosting participation in many sports.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.David Cameron hinted at the U-turn at prime minister's questions
David Cameron has ordered a rethink on plans to cut funding for school sports after concern "at local level", Downing Street has said.
Mr Cameron's spokesman said the PM had asked Education Secretary Michael Gove to look again at the decision.
Mr Gove says the current system is mired in red tape and must change but Mr Cameron indicated a possible U-turn at prime minister's questions.
Labour said there had been a "grassroots revolt" against the plans.
In reply to a question from former sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe, Mr Cameron said he was "looking carefully at the debate that was held yesterday" and would make an announcement soon.
Downing Street said the decision to cut school sports funding had been revisited because "there is some recognition this is being raised at local level".
When asked about a timescale for a change in the policy, the spokesman said "they are looking at it now".
It is thought that any decision will not be taken until local government funding settlements are finalised later this month.
'Change in tone' BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the fact that Mr Sutcliffe had asked Mr Cameron "rather gently" at PMQs whether he would he look again at the issue of school sports again was unusual and suggested there was going to be a change of policy.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
It seems they now admit that they got it wrong and that school sports partnerships have been a success”
End Quote
Andy Burnham
Shadow Education Secretary
Shadow education secretary Andy Burnham welcomed what he said was "a huge change in tone" since a debate on the issue was held in Parliament on Tuesday - in which the plans were repeatedly attacked by Labour MPs.
"Michael Gove's decision to scrap school sports partnerships has sparked a remarkable grassroots revolt, uniting people right across the country," he said.
"It seems they now admit that they got it wrong and that school sports partnerships have been a success.
"This apparent change of heart is welcome and will give a glimmer of hope to the thousands of young people, head teachers and athletes who have called on the government to reverse their decision to scrap schools sports partnerships."
Backlash Mr Burnham has agreed to work with the government to help preserve the existing structure of school co-ordinators while acknowledging the system could be run more efficiently.
"The ball is now in Mr Cameron and Mr Gove's court," he added.
The rethink follows a growing backlash against the plans to end £162m in direct funding for the 450 partnerships, programmes spanning primary, secondary and specialist schools as well as sports colleges and designed to increase sporting opportunities for children.
More than 70 top British athletes, including Olympic heptathlete champion Denise Lewis and world diving champion Tom Daley, wrote to Mr Cameron saying the policy was "ill-conceived" and risked efforts to deliver a "genuine legacy" from the Olympics in terms of encouraging sports participation.
Labour leader Ed Miliband challenged David Cameron over the issue last week and said the prime minister would "live to regret" his suggestion in Parliament that the partnerships had not succeeded in boosting participation in many sports.
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