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Physical Education and School Sport Strategy
School Physical Education and Sport are the foundations on which the rest of sport is built. They provide young people with the skills and abilities to become contributing members of society; they can shape lifelong attitudes to health and fitness and are the starting points on the performance ladder for those with talent.
Quality provision starts in the Early Years. It is proposed that a model of curriculum for birth to 5 years will be launched in 2008. Physical development will have the same high priority as previously. At primary and secondary education level the National Curriculum lays out emphasis on improving the quality of Physical Education offered to all pupils, including those with disabilities.
Physical Education develops physical competence and confidence, and the ability to use these to perform in a range of activities. Physical Education provides opportunities to be creative, competitive and to face up to different challenges as individuals, in groups and in teams. It promotes positive attitudes towards active and healthy lifestyles and is inextricably linked to cultural values and traditions.
When taking part in Physical Education pupils learn how to think in different ways to suit a wide variety of creative, competitive and challenging activities. Physical Education is central to a balanced education and development of all young people.
Physical Education and Sport have a vital role to play in the lives of all young people. Physical Education is a statutory requirement of the National Curriculum throughout Key Stages 1,2,3 and 4. Swimming is taught mainly in primary schools with games, gymnastics, dance and athletics being the main activities in Key Stages 1, 2 and 3.
Outdoor education, involving academic subjects as well as physical education, features in many schools. This programme receives added support through Oaklands, our outdoor education centre in North Wales. A primary school camp is also organised each year.
From Year 10 onwards pupils can extend their interest in physical education by studying for GCSE, A level and Junior Leadership Awards.
Pupils also have the chance to get involved in health related exercise programmes reflecting a more personalised attitude to physical education.
The Wirral has 4 Sports Colleges. These are Bebington High School, Park High School, Pensby High School for Boys and Clare Mount School.
All schools in the borough are involved in the School Sport Partnerships Programme.
This involves each Sports College being linked to 5 or 6 secondary schools. Each of these secondary schools works closely with 4/5 of its feeder primary schools. Each secondary school has a teacher acting as a School Sport Co-ordinator (SSCo) who works for the equivalent of 2 days a week with their cluster. There are the equivalent of 18 SSCos in the borough.
All those responsible for the provision of Physical Education and Sport e.g. Children and Young People's Department, Sports Development Unit, Sport England, Youth Sport Trust, Coaches and Clubs all work closely together in order to offer the best possible opportunities for everyone living in the borough.
This excellent structure has enabled outstanding progress to be made in raising standards and greatly increasing the PE and sporting opportunities available to all youngsters whatever their age, gender or level of performance – both within and beyond the school curriculum.