Physical Education and School Sport

The Physical Education School Sport and Club Links Strategy in Northumberland December 2005

q Introduction

The National PE, School Sport and Club Links Strategy (PESSCL), is contributing to the development of a range of key local and national priorities within Northumberland. By 2008 we want the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of 2 hours per week within and beyond the curriculum to be 85%. The plan for improvement in Northumberland is to raise standards and improve teaching and learning by raising the profile of Physical Education in schools and establishing a co-ordinated strategic plan to support the delivery of PE and School sport across the county. The implementation of the National Strategy over the next few years will be fundamental to the work programmes of the advisory teachers and myself. The Sports Colleges at Ashington and Haydon Bridge are key partners in the process and our work with them, and the effective working of the Northumberland Network of School Sport Partnerships is fundamental if we are to implement the strategy throughout the County.

q Strategic Developments

The expansion of the School Sport Partnership Programme is an essential component of the strategy.  Currently we have five partnerships linked to our two Specialist Sports Colleges at Haydon Bridge, and Ashington however the DfES and DCMS have invited us to work toward the development and operation of six partnerships across the county by September 2006.  The partnership in Seaton Valley and Cramlington will complete our network of Sports partnerships covering all schools in Northumberland. The appointment of key personnel to develop, increase and enhance the quality of the PE and Sport programmes within the schools is a vital part of our strategy. This is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the contribution high quality PE and Sport can make towards raising standards in our schools.

A PESSCL Strategic Group has been established to co-ordinate and manage the development of the National strategy in Northumberland.

A PDM development Group has also been established to ensure the Partnership Managers receive effective support and are provided with an opportunity to share good practice and effectively plan across the county.

A strategic approach towards improving, assessing and co-ordinating sports facility developments is now established to assist schools and other providers to meet the curriculum, extra curricular and community needs of young people. The PLF Initiative will provide an excellent opportunity to develop appropriate facilities for Physical Education and School Sport. A strategic audit of sports facilities has been completed on behalf of Northumberland County Council to support the initiative. The Big Lottery - New Opportunities for Physical Education and Sport in Northumberland will provide £3 million of new sports facilities in seven schools across the county. Three of these projects are now completed, one is now on site and the remaining three will commence early in 2006. Also we are monitoring the development of the four existing SSA projects and £80k revenue funding has been secured to support the development of these projects.

In October 2003 the LA was invited to pilot the programme of professional development for teachers and become the local delivery agency for this initiative. As part of the strategy all teachers now have access to a comprehensive co-ordinated PE and Sport CPD programme. This includes a modular training programme for the Primary Link Teachers as part of the School Sports Partnership programme.

The LA work in partnership with Northumberland Sport, our County Sports Partnership, to enable schools to benefit and link their sports programmes to community sports programmes and local clubs. Our schools are kept informed of initiatives and provided with support where required. They are encouraged to become involved in all National and other programmes.

The annual Northumberland CPD PE and School Sport Brochure promotes and publicises available CPD opportunities within Physical Education and School Sport. Articles of interest and relevance to schools are also included in Northumberland Sport Newsletters.  The PE and School Sport website contains a range of relevant national and local guidance and information to support the work of teachers in our schools. Course Information

The LA ensures appropriate educational representation is made at local, regional and national levels. We are providing quality representation at Sport England Educational Regional Meetings, within Northumberland Sport as delivery agencies for professional development, with the Youth Sport Trust. LEA staff are also members of BAALPE and PEAUK and attend Regional and National meetings.

q Raising Standards and Improving Teaching and Learning.

The Physical Education and Sport Service Level agreement provides individual support packages to meet the needs of the schools. In 2005 34 schools bought into the SLA and received appropriate support from the Advisory Teachers. This complimented the support provided by the Sports Colleges and the School Sports Co-ordinator Partnerships. Network meetings, held termly, provide an opportunity for Co-ordinators, Heads of Department, Directors of Sport and PDM’s to keep up to date with developments, maintain contact with colleagues and share good practice

We are seeking to identify areas of good practice and provide opportunities for schools to share good practice across the 3 phases and throughout each key stage. A good practice database is being developed in liaison with the CPD team. To support and recognise the high standard of PE and sport in schools we have, through the use of Sportsmark/Activemark, promoted the awards and ensured recognition of individual school’s achievements. Support is available to schools throughout the application process. An increased number of schools now have these awards and an increased number of schools are working towards them. The awards are identified as part of the Healthy Schools Standard. This award is currently under review.

The LA provide SEN Consultancy for Physical Education to schools through liaison with the SEN Service. This includes the development and implementation of individualised support packages to schools to support Teachers working with children with special educational needs in mainstream Physical education lessons. 

Health and Safety consultancy in liaison with the Health and Safety Team provides consistency in approach and quality guidance to schools. All LA Guidance Notes are now available on the PE and School Sport website.

Alan Wallis

Physical Education and Sport Adviser