Sport England Programme Findings | Insights for Schools and Sector Partners + FREE Top Tips and Resources

Sport England, in association with Sheffield Hallam University, Youth Sport Trust, Activity Alliance and Association for Physical Education, has shared key insights from its Secondary Teacher Training (STT) programme. Research explored how Secondary Schools can adopt inclusive practices and incorporate student voice to provide a better P.E., school sport and physical activity (PESSPA) environment for students. 

Inclusivity, increased participation and student voice were the dominating topics brought to life through pupil-focused research. Giving young people, especially those who are less active, the chance to shape their P.E. lessons created a happier environment. Getting to know and understand students’ motivations and barriers can help to encourage enjoyment and engagement, and that the least active students do not recognise opportunities to be active at school, as easily as their active peers. 
 
To showcase the findings, Sport England has created five infographics detailing key outputs from the STT programme to be shared far and wide across the teaching community. Teachers can access tips that answer questions about why P.E. matters and why P.E. makes a happy school; as well as insight on how to make P.E. great and accessible for all students. 
 
In addition, Sport England has also developed 10 short films that feature case studies of teachers and students positively impacted by the programme. The films highlight the easy-to-adopt ways secondary school teachers have implemented new approaches having completed the STT programme. The films focus on themes such as; why an inclusive approach is key to increasing participation, why a changing approach to P.E. makes students think differently, and easy ways to incorporate student voice.
 
The research also talks about the importance of activity in schools, with a view to the following benefits it has on the mental health of young people:

• More active students report an average happiness score of seven/10 (compared to five/10 for less active students). 
• Almost three-quarters of students (69%) agreed that being active helps them build resilience. 
• More than half (62%) agreed that it helps them make healthier life choices. 
• More than half (59%) said it improves their mental wellbeing.
• Nearly three-quarters (71%) said it improves their mood.

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The STT programme was created in 2018 to support secondary schools with access to professional development opportunities that support teachers in placing pupils' enjoyment at the heart of PESSPA participation. The research was conducted throughout the £13.5 million Lottery Funded programme that impacted more than 2,500 secondary schools across England. 

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