Fit to Succeed - Toolkit - Case Studies
CASE STUDY 3
Pinhoe Church school
Pinhoe became involved at the start of the project as one of the pilot schools. Lorna Baker had recently taken over as the new headteacher. An inspection of the school had recognised a number of weaknesses in the school and Year 6 SATs results had been poor. The school was keen therefore to embrace any new ways that might engage the pupils in activities that would potentially increase academic performance as well as giving them a new sense of purpose in school life.
The results from pupil questionnaires indicated some low levels of self-esteem in some parts of the school and a low opinion about teachers' attitude toward activity. The school then met the challenge head on and talked to staff and mealtime assistants about ways to increase opportunities for activity for pupils.
Some of the ways that the school addressed the issues included the following:
Teachers, TAs and MTAs took the opportunity to use their special vouchers at local sports facilities.
Regular whole school assemblies have promoted the fact that ‘Active Learning’ is not only a good thing but also helps social skills, it makes you feel good and it is fun!
Looking at more recent results from the pupil questionnaires, the changes in the data in many respects are quite striking. Pupils have a much higher opinion of their teachers' attitude towards activity. Levels of high self esteem across all year groups surveyed have increased.
Pinhoe Church school
Pinhoe became involved at the start of the project as one of the pilot schools. Lorna Baker had recently taken over as the new headteacher. An inspection of the school had recognised a number of weaknesses in the school and Year 6 SATs results had been poor. The school was keen therefore to embrace any new ways that might engage the pupils in activities that would potentially increase academic performance as well as giving them a new sense of purpose in school life.
The results from pupil questionnaires indicated some low levels of self-esteem in some parts of the school and a low opinion about teachers' attitude toward activity. The school then met the challenge head on and talked to staff and mealtime assistants about ways to increase opportunities for activity for pupils.
Some of the ways that the school addressed the issues included the following:
- Access to water - their local supermarket sponsored the school with a water bottle for each child. They kept the bottle on their desk and were encouraged to drink whenever they needed to. Teacher noticed an increased attention to lessons and parents reported that their children had more energy when they got home at the end of the day.
- Aerobics - an aerobics teacher was employed at lunchtimes to work particularly with the older girls.
- Tape recorders - Dance was identified as one of the key activities that girls had said they would like to do more of. By providing a tape recorder that could be used outside, children were able to make up their own dances as they wished at lunchtimes.
- Mealtime assistants took it upon themselves to be more pro-active and organised skipping sessions.
- A 'Fit Kids' video was made available to groups of children to encourage them to be more active.
Teachers, TAs and MTAs took the opportunity to use their special vouchers at local sports facilities.
Regular whole school assemblies have promoted the fact that ‘Active Learning’ is not only a good thing but also helps social skills, it makes you feel good and it is fun!
Looking at more recent results from the pupil questionnaires, the changes in the data in many respects are quite striking. Pupils have a much higher opinion of their teachers' attitude towards activity. Levels of high self esteem across all year groups surveyed have increased.