Aim
To ensure that all aspects of physical activity in school are promoted for the health and well being of students, staff and visitors.
Rationale
The policy should aim to encourage the physical activity of our students as this has been shown to:
Improve overall health;
Increase opportunities for social interaction & improved social and moral development;
Reduce risk of developing adult diseases;
Promote a sense of wellbeing & self esteem;
Create a reduction in anxiety and stress;
Help maintain an energy balance;
Improve cognitive functioning & academic achievement in school.
Objectives
To provide consistent messages in school about physical activity both within and outside the taught curriculum.
To increase the physical activity levels of students in line with national targets.
To contribute to optimum student behaviour, physical fitness, growth and development assisting students to reach their learning potential.
To improve self esteem and confidence among students and provide opportunities for them to work together.
To provide the opportunity for students to develop valuable life time skills.
To increase students’ knowledge, understanding, experience and attitudes towards physical activity.
To ensure physical activity provision in school reflects the cultural and medical needs of students.
To contribute to out of hours learning for students.
Guidelines
Physical Activity will be monitored by the Director of Specialism, Mr Heyes, the Curriculum Area Leader for Physical Education, Mr Sharrock, the Outdoor Games Organiser, Mr Turner and the Sports College steering group.
PE will be taught in curriculum time – Years 7, 8, 10 & 11 each having three lessons (150 minutes) of PE and year 9 have two lessons (100 minutes).
The PE department will be actively encouraged to maintain the wide range of extra-curricular activities that they provide. This includes the many fixtures that take place against other schools in a wide variety of sports.
The school has a ‘School Travel Plan’ and there are secure facilities for the storage of cycles. The premises are used out of school time by the local community and external coaches are employed to give specialist coaching in different fields. This is in-line with our dedication to extended services.
The benefits of a healthy lifestyle which includes physical activity is encouraged and promoted: in displays around school; on the website; in pupil planners and in curriculum time allocated to PHSEE.
Surveys are carried out in PE lessons, there is a school council and students sit on the sports college steering group each giving pupils the opportunity to have their voice and the opportunity to influence decisions made about physical activity.
Governors take an active interest about physical activity in the school and two governors sit on the sports college steering group. Full support is given to staff regarding training on physical activity.
