“Promoting physical and mental health in schools creates a virtuous circle reinforcing children’s attainment and achievement that in turn improves their wellbeing, enabling children to thrive and achieve their full potential.”
This statement (pdf) – from the chief medical officer of England – is backed up by a wealth of studies. One identified that the amount of physical activity pupils engaged with aged 11 had a positive effect on academic performance across the key subjects at the age of 11, 13 and in final GCSE results. Or another, also from a Public Health England report, highlights that children and young people who are aerobically fit achieve higher academic scores.
Evidence such as this is pouring in across the education sector, and schools are certainly in the spotlight. At the Youth Sport Trust we are seeing some schools shine in their delivery of a rounded education that includes high quality physical education (PE), school sport and physical activity, which means that we are in a strong position to help share such learning across the sector.
So how can teachers tap into this knowledge, put the evidence into practice, and watch students flourish and school performance ratings soar?
On Thursday 3 March 2016, the Youth Sport Trust 2016 Conference will bring together leading practitioners and those working with young people to tackle the most significant and pressing issues young people face today.
This education conference will be pioneering the contribution and impact that physical activity and PE has on pupils’ cognitive development and performance, engagement with school and their personal and character development. It will aim to support teachers in nurturing and developing the holistic wellbeing of their students.
It is expected to be the first national forum following the launch of the expected Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Strategy for Sport and Department of Health Childhood Obesity (DHCO) strategy, both of which are likely to have profound implications for PE and school sport.
As such, there will be a sharp focus on supporting schools to provide advice and ideas on how to strategically use PE and school sport to drive wellbeing, develop leadership skills and explore ways this can impact on raising attainment in both primary and secondary education.
With a host of leading experts from the world of sport and school achievement and improvement, our conference will provide practical learning for delegates as well as an opportunity to network with peers and leading suppliers in the world of PE, school sport and physical activity. There will also be the chance to engage with high-level politicians and policy makers in education, health and sport.
Workshops will help highlight how to create a balanced curriculum to ensure a positive impact on pupil outcomes, personal development, behaviour and welfare, such as how to address the challenges of wellbeing at a pupil, practitioner and school level, developing the life skills needed for employability, and ultimately help schools raise achievement through PE and school sport.
Sessions for those in secondary education will look at how to use PE and school sport to develop students’ character and resilience, and how to equip them with the kind of leadership and employability skills demanded by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). They will also include updates and guidance on Ofsted, GCSEs and assessment, as well as improving participation among girls.
Primary specific sessions will showcase how the PE and school sport premium can be maximised, with examples of best practice that demonstrate the impact of PE and school sport on achievement, as well as sustained long term, whole schools. The keynote speech from Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE, scientist, writer, broadcaster and member of the House of Lords, will look at the challenges that digitalisation poses to our young people and consider how sport and physical activity can positively redress and harness some of those effects.
Earlier this year, the Youth Sport Trust released its Class of 2035 (pdf) report that provided a unique look ahead at how PE and school sport may need to evolve in the coming 20 years. It uncovered some key insights and presented four possible scenarios where young people will either be empowered or disempowered to take part in physical activity. Focused workshops at the conference will consider these scenarios in greater detail and will complement the thoughts of Baroness Greenfield.
At the Youth Sport Trust, we know that physical and cognitive development are inextricably linked, and that high quality PE, sport and physical activity at school is essential in combating the challenges faced by all young people in supporting them to fulfil their potential.
It can engage them in learning and support the development of skills needed for success in the classroom – communication, teamwork and self-management. In turn this not only creates well-rounded individuals but also helps teachers in their role of supporting young people to achieve their full potential.
I look forward to seeing you in Coventry for what promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking day of learning.
Book your place and view the programme here.
