Boys particularly gain confidence from sport, say researchers

The study found boys were more likely than girls to raise their sense of self-worth through specialist sports colleges.

The research by Northumbria University found sports college pupils' confidence was significantly higher than those at a comprehensive school.

They were also more confident about their physical appearance.

Specialist schools are state schools which follow the mainstream curriculum, but have a particular emphasis and expertise in an area, such as technology, science, languages or sports.

The majority of secondary schools in England now have specialist status.

Charltons' roots

And the research, examining sports specialist colleges, suggests that there could be a positive impact on self-esteem and behaviour.

"There is a logical link between pupils having better feelings about themselves that may well translate into less anti-social behaviour," said Gordon Macfadyen who carried out the research.

The study focused on pupils at Ashington Community High School Sports College in Northumberland, the home town of World Cup winners for England, Bobby and Jackie Charlton.

Specialist sports colleges are scoring off the pitch as well

The school has a catchment area characterised by high levels of unemployment, deprivation and low levels of participation in higher education.

The results were compared with pupils from a non-specialist school of a similar demographic profile in the same town.

A total of 300 Year-9 pupils (13 to 14 years) completed specially designed questionnaires for the report at the beginning and the end of the school year.

"Attendance at the sports college had a beneficial effect on all components of physical self-worth for the male pupils," said Mr Macfadyen .

"In particular, their perceptions of sports competence and the importance they attributed to sports competence increased substantially after attending the sports college for only one year, a finding that was not replicated at the control school.

"This indicates that the current curriculum, which has a particular emphasis on sports competence, is successfully achieving its aim."

Mr Macfayden said the findings were also relevant in the wake of the government's moves to tackle obesity.