Following the afPE conference last year a working group was formed to develop a visioning paper in support of physical education colleagues entering BSF discussions and in particular those with a strategic lead for Physical Education.

This document is intended to support such colleagues in shaping initial discussions with their BSF stakeholder group for physical education and sport.

We are circulating this early Version 1 in order to share our thinking at this point, support colleagues already entering such discussions and importantly to seek feedback and further case studies from the profession.  We would welcome your support in this to inform future versions.

Please send any feedback you have to john.matthews@afpe.org.uk  

 Flexible Spaces for Physical Learners - Version 1

afPE - BSF Working Group
(Helen Miles, Ken Adamson, John Matthews, Mark Perkins and Alan Lindsay)

Teaching tops workforce talent poll

A survey released by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) reports that teachers are perceived as one of the most talented workforces in the UK.

Respondents were asked to rate their top three in a series of professions according to the talent you need to work in them. Teaching was ranked second, with 39 per cent categorising it as a talented profession beating 'city-based' jobs such as law (29 per cent), management consultancy (8 per cent) and accountancy (6 per cent).  Medicine came top with 56 per cent.

The full report can be viewed HERE.

afPE "honourable mentions" in House of Commons Debate

In a parliamentary debate on school sport on the 17th January afPE was mentioned several times by Hugh Robertson, the Shadow Minister for Sport and praised by all sides of the House for our work on raising the profile of school sport in the political agenda and supporting the physical education profession.

Click HERE to view some of the main points within the debate.

Physical Education ITT numbers cut again – parliamentary question from the Opposition Spokesperson: afPE will ask for clarification of the Minister's references about "the heading of PE teacher"

Hugh Robertson (Faversham and Mid-Kent) (Con): The Secretary of State's third action point was to build physical activity into our lives, and I entirely endorse that; it is one of the crucial planks of the strategy. Why then did the Minister for Schools and Learners confirm in a written answer that this Government are cutting the number of places for physical education teachers from 1,450 in 2005-06 to 1,180 in 2007-08—a cut of 25 per cent. in the very people needed to tackle the problem?

Alan Johnson: If the hon. Gentleman will forgive me, let me say that he can ask that question when he has the relevant Secretary of State in front of him. My recollection from when I was doing that job is that we had a large increase in the number of PE teachers. [Interruption.] Well, I would have to look at that in detail. I will not take it as read from the hon. Gentleman. [Interruption.] I mean no disrespect to the hon. Gentleman — [Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker: Order. Let the Secretary of State reply. The hon. Gentleman might not be satisfied with the reply, but it is the reply he is going to get.

Alan Johnson: My recollection is that we had increased the number of PE teachers and people dealing with sports in our schools, although I do not know whether they come under the heading of "PE teacher". The situation might be similar to that in public health, where we have a huge increase in the number of people dealing with that but they are not categorised in our staff census in the same way as they were before. I think that the hon. Gentleman might be usefully be present for Department for Children, Schools and Families questions.

Lords Debate on Olympic Legacy

Click HERE to view the Lords debate on the 2012 Olympic legacy.

Shadow Minister calls attention to contradictions in sport policy and reductions in ITT numbers for physical education

It tells you everything you need to know about the state of grassroots sport that the England football manager's salary package through to the next World Cup exceeds the total amount of money invested by government each year into the game's grassroots through The Football Foundation.

Mass participation sport as a whole is neglected, and if we do not take urgent action now, we will fail to deliver our London 2012 commitment of creating a more active nation.

Click HERE to read the full article written by Hugh Robertson MP, courtesy of the Telegraph.co.uk

afPE Health and Safety advice again cited by Times Educational Supplement

Jon Berry's article "Do you dare make contact?" in the TES Magazine (pp 26-29) cites afPE as a source of advice and support for teachers who are uncertain about the nature and occasion for physical contact between teachers and children. 

Last year, the Health & Safety Team's guidance notes on PPA time were cited by the Minister for Schools in a Commons debate. 

Well done to the afPE Health & Safety Team!