Our PE department employs a holistic approach to engage students in PE and it is rewarding students with success on many levels.
Trident High School is using an innovative approach in physical education to try to get better results in student performance across the curriculum by changing the way it runs PE classes.
The new approach has been led by Head of Physical Education, Jon Stanhope. He says that previously, too many students were sitting out PE lessons or not bringing their uniform. All too often, students were prevented from achieving good grades because, although they were athletic and good at sports, they were often not able to work in teams, could not self- manage, and forgot to wear the PE uniform.
So the school developed a new strategy to align key skills and values with National Curriculum
measures and focuses on these curriculum goals:
1. Identifying and using strengths in myself and others.
2. Having a positive attitude to succeed. 3. Being a good team player. 4. Managing personal fitness and training
methods. The four themes of the strategy are:
1. Who am I? Who are we? 2. Attitude is everything. 3. We can work it out. 4. Up your gains.
Mr Stanhope says it is important that students not only succeed in sport but are ‘literate sports people’, and understand the importance of being good team players, socially responsible, resilient, and good communicators. They will be assessed on these criteria, rather than just as athletes.
Mr Stanhope says, “The focus is now on the PE student as a whole, rather than someone who gains grades due to being able to jump, throw, climb or hit the furthest or highest.”
For the teaching team there have been significant changes. During class no student can sit out, and all are required to participate. A uniform is provided for any student who doesn’t have one; there are clear and consistent rules on the start and end of lessons, and the language used in class has changed to reflect the school core values of quality work, respect for others and Kia Manawa Nui (Have Courage).
The Year 10 programme uses the student inquiry model where students carry out their own learning inquiry in each topic, and follow their inquiry in two different learning contexts in each term. The students choose their own contexts, led by different teachers.
Principal Mr Gurney says, “The results in terms of student participation and creating a ‘Team Trident’ has been exceptional. All students now wear full Trident PE gear and no students ever sit out of lessons, and there’s been a dramatic decrease in the number of students who borrow gear. They are beginning to self-manage and show resilience.”
Year 9 student Charleen Taylor says, “It is helping my performance in sport and teaching me how to become a team player.”
Year 10 student Jacob Bridge says his fitness and technique has improved, and the programme has taught him communication skills and how to work together with other people. “It has helped with problem solving as a group, and it’s showing us how everyone can contribute to team goals.”.