Curriculum

How does a PE department improve its curriculum and make it more relevant to its students?

Reading time: 3 minutes

Forming the PE curriculum – one of the most interesting, but most challenging, roles that a Head of PE can have! With very little structure or guidance from the national curriculum, it is often left to the department manager to decide the direction and structure of the PE curriculum. In this article, we explore ways to make the curriculum relevant to the students.

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The importance of PE in the curriculum

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There is no denying the importance of Physical Education to the health and wellbeing of a child. The benefits to a child of being physically active are proven and profound. In this article, we summarise the significance of PE in whole-child development.

1. Physical wellbeing

The obesity crisis in the UK is well documented, with a government action plan published in 2017 stating that almost a third of 2 to 15-year-olds are considered to be obese, and that these people are continuing to remain overweight into adulthood. This can lead to a myriad of health issues, both physical and mental. A Stay Active paper published by the Chief Medical Officers in 2011 highlights the strong evidence between younger children who are physically active having less prevalent health issues. The research suggests that pupils who are physically active at school from a young age are more likely to remain active as they get older, increasing the likelihood that they remain healthy.

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Raising Aspirations in those who don’t like PE

Reading time: 3 minutes

Nelson Mandela once said that “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where there was only despair”.

Although this inspirational quote may touch the heart of those who relish and engage in physical education, it may not resonate quite so much with pupils who have lower levels of engagement. In this blog, we explore methods that you may use to raise the aspirations of those who don’t like PE.

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PE funding: all you need to know

Reading time: 3 minutes

The Government has announced £320 million in PE funding for the 2020-21 academic year.

Along with the announcement, the Department for Education also confirmed that any funding not spent during the 2019-20 academic year can be used next year – giving leaders the opportunity to add to their existing provision.

But who is the funding available to and how should it be spent? This blog post explains.

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Measuring progress through effective assessment

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Measuring the progress of pupils has been performed in a manner of different ways over the years.

As different governments have come into power and the Department of Education looks to develop new strategies, the approach to assessments have been modified.

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How will the role of PE teacher develop in the near future?

Reading time: 4 minutes

Obesity, technology, evolving curriculums, ever tighter school budgets – they’re all influencing and impacting the role of the PE teacher.

Make no mistake – the role of the PE teacher seems set to change beyond recognition. But what should be expected of this 22nd century PE teacher? Let’s explore a range of expert opinions…

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How to introduce maths into your rugby lessons

Reading time: 2 minutes

Integrating maths with PE is yet another way schools and academies can seek to develop interdisciplinary lessons for children, and it doesn’t have to be as difficult as it first sounds.

With a few simple tips you can have a rugby lesson that is not only teaching them about the game itself, but also gets them to participate in maths lessons without them even realising it.

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How to make the most of a diminishing school sports budget

Reading time: 3 minutes

Is your school sports budget being reduced as part of wider school funding restrictions?

81% of schools have been hit hard by cuts, with 14% reporting the need for teacher redundancies; almost four years after the ring-fenced funding for the national School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) ended alongside the necessary two hours of PE in schools each week, we’re really beginning to witness the disastrous aftermath on PE departments up and down the country.

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Assessment without Levels in Physical Education

Reading time: 4 minutes

PE Office has spoken of assessment without levels before, if we rewind to April 2014 we stated that ‘we all have to accept that level descriptors are no more and embrace the new challenge of assessment without levels…Embrace the new curriculum, because any short term pain from adapting to the new system will result in long term gain. I believe that change may prove to be a good thing for PE, provided we get it right.’

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