New Zealand advances sport in education project

Sport New Zealand is developing a new approach to deliver improved academic, social, PE and sporting outcomes in secondary schools.

As well as improved academic performance, the project aims to improve the delivery of PE and sports programmes in surrounding primary schools, and to engage community organisations, such as clubs, in supporting teachers and students involved in sport in schools.

The three year project will be ready to start implementing initiatives from the beginning of the 2013 school year and will specifically aim to:

• Develop teaching and assessment resources in Maths, English and PE using sport as a context to engage students in learning;
• Develop an associated professional development support programme;
• Resource a dedicated PE leader within the school to provide professional development and assist with the introduction of new teaching practices;
• Link secondary schools and clusters of primary schools, where secondary PE experts can provide professional development and support to primary school teachers;
• Deliver a student leadership programme in secondary schools, focussing on coaching, and utilise these leaders/coaches in primary schools;
• Incorporate the values and characteristics of sport into the school environment eg teamwork, rules, respect and leadership; and
• Enhance links to the wider school community, including families - improve facility utilisation and access, establish school-community/club/RST partnerships and establish sports councils.

Initially, five secondary schools will be selected to help develop the approach, resources and practices (that will ultimately be made available to all schools), with Sport New Zealand currently calling for expressions of interest from secondary schools that want to be considered for the project.

Following an evaluation of the expressions of interest, selected schools will be invited to complete a full application.

Sport NZ is also establishing workstreams to design and develop components of the project. The Sport and Curriculum workstream will utilise subject experts in Phys Ed, Mathematics and English acting as Project Sport and Curriculum Leaders (PSC) to work with lead teachers in the selected project schools.

These School Sport and Curriculum Leaders (SSC) will be responsible for the implementation of teaching and assessment resources that use sport as a context for learning and student engagement.

Schools wanting to be part of the project need to submit an application by 5pm on Monday 3rd September 2012.

For more information or to submit expressions of interest contact the Project Manager, Garry Carnachan on 027 563 8000, E: nzsssc@xtra.co.nz, www.sportnz.org.nz/en-nz/young-people/Sport-in-Education-Project/