Learning the ‘A List’

PGCE and School Direct physical education trainee teachers completed their university-based induction having learnt how to teach physical education through what course leader Dr Gary Stidder has termed ‘The A list’ of physical education.

Dr Stidder explained that: “Whilst trainees learn the pedagogy and teaching of conventional and traditional team games such as football, basketball, rugby and netball they also focus on an alternative approach to teaching physical education.

“In doing so the trainees enhance their own individual subject knowledge and develop a skill set that improves their teaching during sustained periods of school-based training. It also helps them to address the standards for qualifying to teach in that they have a secure knowledge of physical education, foster and maintain pupils’ interest in the subject, and address misunderstandings.

“This also help them to demonstrate a critical understanding of developments in the subject and curriculum area.”

Since September trainees have engaged with ‘The A list’ of physical education which has included the following:

Alternative – Physical activities that depart from or challenge traditional norms and considered to be non-traditional in a UK context such as kinball, tchoukball and korfball.

Athletic – Physical activities that require physical skill, agility and stamina such as street surfing.

Adapted – Physical activities suited to pupils with additional learning needs that can also be practiced by all pupils within secondary schools such as boccia, goalball, new age kurling, parachute games and wheelchair basketball.

Artistic – Physical activities related to cultural and artistic forms of dance.

Aesethic – Physical activities that are creative and involve a combination of movements that require precision, fluency and control such as gymnastics.

Aquatic – Physical activities that take place in or on the water such as swimming, life-saving and personal survival.

Watch the highlight video of the students taking part in the activities: