IT'S not enough for children to attend lessons in school these days. There are a variety of after-school activities as well.

Pupils take part in sports lessons as well as other extra-curricular activities, from art to cookery.

They can be a godsend to parents who can be rest assured that their children are being looked after and benefiting at the same time.

But spare a thought for the teachers who have been campaigning for regular hours.

The threat of industrial action by teachers in support of a 35-hour working week has led to fears that after-school clubs and competitive fixtures could be lost.

A dispute in pay in the 1980s led to similar action.

Teachers work more hours than most. After school if they're not coaching kids or refereeing fixtures they can be marking homework.

So if they're working all this overtime they should be recompensed.

That's what the Culture, Media and Sport Secretary has said.

Chris Smith says that teachers could be paid for running sports classes after school.

School-sports co-ordinators would limit the impact of any work-to-rule on pupils.

One of the reasons why we are putting in place these co-ordinators is that we recognise that we can't call solely on teachers to provide additional support outside the classroom, Mr Smith told the Times Educational Supplement.

In the longer term teachers could receive overtime for this work.

That's a question we haven't yet addressed, said Mr Smith.

We would rather see how school sports co-ordinators develop first and then see if anything more needs to be done.

Every school across Worcester provides some sort of after-school activity.

And some have received awards for the range.

Elgar High and St Joseph's RC Primary School have both been awarded the Sportsmark by Sport England.

This shows that they have shown commitment to coaching youngsters and a co-operation with professional sports coaches.

Pupils have been able to receive expert tuition and have fun at the same time.

If teachers could get paid for this, or if other co-ordinators are brought in, then schemes like this will be protected.

The extra expense will all be worth it in the long run the UK could gain more Olympic medals and we'll lose the tag of being an unhealthy nation.