Join the debate
31/03/08

Click HERE to join in on the debate concerning physical education and school sport.

BERA Physical Education Review
31/03/08

The BERA physical education review is now available to download, click HERE to view the document.

3rd Year of Bursary for Coaches & Leaders
31/03/08

Applications for the Nancy Ovens bursary, aimed at coaches or leaders working in the active leisure and learning sector, are once again being accepted.

Click HERE for more information.

Bercow Review
31/03/08

The Bercow review is the first major review in seven years for people with speech, language and communication needs and it provides an excellent opportunity to bolster support for vulnerable children and young people.

Click HERE to find out more.

afPE response to the outcomes of the Dance Review, and the announcement of an extra £5.5 million investment in dance
15/03/08

The Association for Physical Education (afPE) values dance as an integral part of national curriculum physical education, and as an essential element of a broad and balanced curriculum.  afPE welcomes the outcomes of the Dance Review, believing that positive relationships between teachers of dance and physical education will provide enhanced experiences for all children, both boys and girls.
 
Dance is the second most popular school physical education activity, so afPE warmly welcomes this new investment.  We are delighted that our CEO, Professor Margaret Talbot OBE, will be a member of the Dance Review Programme Board.  However, afPE urges that attention be given to aligning the needs of this welcome investment, with other aspects of government policy.  For example, while the government emphasises the importance of dance and physical education to children's learning and school life, there have been, paradoxically, reductions in the allocation of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) places for both dance and physical education.  Thus far, too, there has been little visibility of dance's facilities needs in the "Building Schools for the Future" capital programme.  Finally, the systemic weaknesses in some initial training for primary teachers, in preparing them adequately for physical education and dance, does need to be addressed.
 
afPE looks forward government recognition of the effects of its policies in initial teacher training on physical education and dance, and to further focus on school facilities, so that Lord Adonis' assertion that all should have the opportunity to dance and that schools need a sprung floor and suitably qualified teacher, made at the launch of Tony Hall's (Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House) Dance Review, can be realised.
 
afPE will support the implementation of the Dance Review, and welcomes the opportunity to support it through contributing to strategy, through the extensive expertise and experience of its members, and through its own publications and continuing professional development.

New funding for dancing classes
15/03/08

The government is investing an extra £5.5m pounds to encourage more young people to take up dancing.

The announcement comes after a review of youth dance by the chief executive of the Royal Opera House Tony Hall.

The profile and popularity of dance has been raised following the success of television programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing. Extra centres for advanced training will also be set up to support exceptionally gifted young dancers.

One centralised body will provide leadership and focus. According to BBC arts correspondent Rebecca Jones, the government thinks it is now a good time to invest the extra cash to give more young people the chance to dance - both for fun and fitness.

British ballet companies have a world class reputation and dance is the second most popular school activity after football, our correspondent added.

Click HERE to read the full article courtesy of BBC News.

New afPE Resource - The Reality of High Quality Physical Education: The Crucial Role of Leadership
14/03/08

afPE are delighted to announce the launch of a brand new resource entitled 'The Reality of High Quality Physical Education: The Crucial Role of Leadership'.

Synopsis:
Ensuring the physical education you provide is of a high standard can be a challenging task. In order to have the confidence in your organisation's provision, you need a yardstick against which you can measure your progress.

This resource focuses on your role as a leader and manager within physical education and sporting context, supporting you in evaluating the quality of your provision.

Combining the Every Child Matters policy and Ofsted's 10 high quality outcomes, this resource will help you ensure your provision follows statutory regulation and will become an invaluable checklist which you can evaluate the quality of your leadership and management skills.

To download a full overview of this new publication click HERE.

Click HERE to order a copy (£12.99).

Scotland outlines criteria for quality physical education
11/03/08

Physical Education — a portrait of current practice is one in a series of portraits by HMIE, depicting current practice in key aspects of the Scottish curriculum.

Click HERE for more information.

Pool builders pile in as Government lie low
07/03/08

The Government and Sport England yesterday faced renewed criticism from the British Swimming Pool Federation over their failure to address closures of swimming and diving facilities.

Click HERE for the full article courtesy of the Telegraph.co.uk

Government swimming figures questioned
06/03/08

The Government are to be challenged over the figures they are claiming on swimming provision in the wake of a report last week in The Daily Telegraph which revealed that school and open-access pools were closing at an alarming rate.

Click HERE for the full article courtesy of the Telegraph.co.uk

afPE to benefit from new TV game - BingoLotto
06/03/08

afPE is delighted to announce it will be amongst the beneficiaries of BingoLotto – a new TV game which will raise money for sport and the voluntary sector.

BingoLotto will be a weekly game broadcast on digital TV channels Virgin1 and Challenge. Tickets will be on sale from outlets around the country and will allow viewers to take part in the BingoLotto game from the comfort of their own homes, with a 1 in 9.5 chance of winning.

The BingoLotto game has run in Sweden since 1991 where it has raised just under £1bn for charities and sports organisations. At least 20% from each ticket sold in the UK will be distributed to sport and recreation projects up and down the country. Profits from the show will be distributed to the governing and representative bodies of sport and recreation.

The funding afPE will receive will be spent on new and enhanced programmes of activity at the grassroots or on special projects, like infrastructure improvement and capacity building, for which funding is currently unavailable.

The game will also provide valuable profile to a wide range of sports and activities by featuring them on the weekly show and on the BingoLotto website. afPE will support the game by promoting it to our members; by providing examples and case studies of how the proceeds have been spent for the TV show; and by identifying current and future stars to appear on the show when required. The more tickets are sold each week, the more afPE benefits.

The game's motto is 'Real people. Real winners.' and it will offer life-enhancing, rather than life-changing prizes to winners. The prizes in the game are varied and range from tickets for the following week's game, through to cars and holidays, to a maximum cash prize of £100,000. BingoLotto is regulated by the Gambling Commission.

For more details about the game, please visit www.bingolotto.tv