The Really Useful PE Book

Two University of Brighton academics have published their fourth edited book with Routledge.

Dr Gary Stidder and Sid Hayes have released The Really Useful Physical Education Book: Learning and Teaching across the 11 – 16 age range with contributions from 16 other University of Brighton PE, dance, sport science and sport coaching staff members.

Fully updated in line with the National Curriculum, the second edition of The Really Useful Physical Education Book offers crucial guidance and practical ideas for effective and imaginative lessons. Underpinned by easy-to-understand theory and with an emphasis on inclusive physical education, each chapter presents a wide range of high quality lessons, alongside engaging teaching examples and methodologies.

The book highlights the ways in which schools can redesign the physical education curriculum and include the teaching and learning of alternative activities within lessons to ensure maximum inclusion and enjoyment for all from lessons. These include the ‘A list’ of physical activities:

• Alternative – physical activities that depart from or challenge traditional norms i9n a UK context and considered to be non-traditional in a UK context such as Kin-Ball, Tchoukball, korfball, handball.
• Adapted – physical activities suited to pupils with additional learning needs but can also be practised by all pupils within secondary schools, such as Boccia, goalball, New Age kurling and sitting volleyball.
• Artistic – physical activities related to cultural and artistic forms of dance, e.g. Bollywood.
• Aesethic – physical activities that are creative and involve a combination of movements that require precision, fluency and control, such as gymnastics, cheerleading and trampolining.
• Aquatic – physical activities that take place in or on the water, such as swimming, synchronised swimming, water aerobic dancing, water polo, life-saving and personal survival.
• Athletic – physical activities that require physical skill, agility and stamina.
• Adventurous – physical activities that require precise problem-solving and decision-making skills, such as orienteering and climbing.
• Aerobic – physical activities that are sustained and require low to high intensity, such as jogging, rowing, non-contact combat activities and cycling.
• Anaerobic – physical activities that are non-endurance activities involving speed strength and power, such as sprinting and weight training.

The practical guide offers essential support and advice for both trainee and practising teachers with features including specific guidance and teaching ideas for physical education lessons and a must-read for all those who want to make their lessons inclusive and fun whilst promoting a healthy lifestyle and enthusiasm for lifelong activity.

Gary Stidder is Principal Lecturer and the PGCE, School Direct and Troops to Teachers Route Leader in Physical Education at the University of Brighton, UK. He is also the co-founder and deputy director of Football 4 Peace International and a Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sid Hayes is Principal Lecturer in Physical Education, and Assistant Head of the School of Sport and Service Management at the University of Brighton.