His visit to Chichester High School for Boys was all part of the West Sussex West school sport partnership Fit for 5 conference.

The aim was to help teachers and schools achieve the government’s PE and sport strategy of five hours of sport and activity for all young people aged between five and 19.

The conference was attended by primary and secondary headteachers, primary link teachers and school sports co-ordinators, who over the past six years have increased the number of young people in Bognor and Chichester taking part in two hours of sport and PE a week from 56 per cent to 86 per cent.

The government, on the back of the successful London 2012 bid to host the Olympics, is now investing even more funds into PE, school sport and sport in the community to help achieve the new five-hour target. Specialist coaches will shortly be deployed into all schools in the area to help run more out-of-hours clubs.

The conference was hosted by Tamsin Smith (Chichester High School for Girls) Elysia Hope (Bognor Regis Community College), Sophie Potter (BRCC), Jo Thompson (CHSG) and Holly Stephenson (CHSG).

The five girls are all members of the school sport partnership’s newest innovation, the leadership academy. This is attended by outstanding sports leaders nominated by their secondary school to act as role models to help inspire young people.

Key speakers were David Jones, headteacher of Bognor Regis Community College, Elle Ford, competition manager, and Kate Smith, assistant partnership development manager.

Mel Walton, partnership development manager, said: “A united approach between schools, local clubs and community providers is the only way we can begin to help young people achieve the new five-hour offer.”