LDA Update - Issue 4
 
The November edition of the monthly LDA update includes important information regarding delivery forecasts and case studies. Click on the link below to download a copy.

 LDA Update - Issue 4

QCA - Key Stage 3 Review

The QCA are reviewing what pupils at key stage 3 learn. The government has asked QCA to carry out a review as a result of the White Paper 14-19 Education and Skills (February 2005).To view the summary document which concentrates on both the aims of the review and what the review will cover, please click on the link below.

 QCA Summary Document

Physical Activity and Basic Movement Development in Early Childhood: A Review of Literature

Learning and Teaching Scotland has published 'Physical Activity and Basic Movement Development in Early Childhood: A Review of Literature'.

Mike Jess, from Edinburgh University said:"The aim of this literature review is to inform all those involved in young children's physical activity and basic movement development about our current understanding of the issues in this area."

Click HERE for more information, including a copy of the review.

Labour's 'Own Goal' Over Trainee Physical Education Teachers

Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary, faced criticism last night for issuing a high-profile endorsement for school sports on the day that ministers slipped out plans to cut the number of trainee PE teachers.

Lord Adonis, the Education Minister, announced in the House of Lords that the number of teacher training places for physical education would be cut by 10 per cent over the next year.

The former Downing Street adviser said there were currently 1,310 trainee physical education teachers in England, but this would drop by 130 to just 1,180 in 2007-08.

Details of the reduction were slipped out in a little-noticed written answer in the Lords just hours after Mr Johnson had enthusiastically backed team sports in school in an interview with the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror.

Mr Johnson said: "Team sports are an excellent way to build confidence and teach children how to work together. There are health benefits too."

He added that the Government was still aiming to guarantee that every pupil will have four hours of "high-quality" physical education every week. The Government announced recently that four out of five schools were now providing two hours of physical education a week for every pupil.

The Conservatives said that Mr Johnson was guilty of empty rhetoric. They stressed that a Government report last month revealed around 360,000 15 and 16 year-olds were being denied the chance to take part in team sports at school.

Source: Graeme Wilson, Political Correspondent
www.telegraph.co.uk

Prime Minister Commits to 2 Hours' Curriculum Physical Education by 2010

The message from Tony Blair to the Schools and Partnerships Conference in Telford on 15 and 16 November included, not only congratulations for exceeding the PSA target of at least 75% of young people receiving 2 hours' high quality physical education and school sport, but a reminder that the target for 2008 is 85%.  Most important for physical education was the following statement:

"We stand by our ambition that, by 2010, all young people should have 2 hours of curriculum physical education and the opportunity to access a further 2-3 hours of sport beyond the curriculum." 

The wording is significant, with 2 hours' curriculum physical education for all young people; and the opportunity to access 2-3 further hours beyond the curriculum.  Whether this is in recognition of the major role played by curriculum physical education in the achievement of the 2006 PSA target; or of the statutory entitlement provided by all children by national curriculum physical education, is unclear.  What is clear is that there will now need to be serious planning of the teaching, coaching and leadership workforce, if this government ambition and Prime Ministerial commitment is to be fulfilled.