Outcome 3: We develop physical competence & confidence from the earliest age

Current Context: Developing physical competence and confidence from the earliest age is essential for young people to stay active throughout life. In Angus it is achieved through our approach to quality physical education, physical activity and sport (PEPAS) experiences. Instilling this as early as possible enables us to have the best chance of staying active throughout life.

By providing an extensive professional learning programme to support all teachers/early years practitioners, physical literacy is developed from an early age and our young people are equipped with the ‘tools’ to participate in physical education, physical activity and sport throughout their lives. Angus schools are committed to deliver 2 hours/2 periods per week of physical education to all children and young people and leadership programmes exist across upper primary and secondary stages, developing transferable coaching, officiating, and organising skills. Within Angus’ higher and further education, there are extensive industry relevant qualifications enabling our students to further grow and develop.

Physical education consistently drives attainment within Angus Secondary Schools, with insight analysis demonstrating this trend. Over the last 3 years an average A-C pass rate of 94.19% has been achieved at National 5. Rates of 87.42% at Higher and 83.52 at Advanced Higher has also been achieved over this period.

Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, our young people did not receive the same levels of provision to develop their physical confidence and competence as they normally would. Establishing equity, access for all learners and safeguarding our resource for quality physical education delivery are all challenges we will need to overcome.

Local Outcomes: In Angus we will...

• Ensure a consistent physical education framework and quality delivery across all educational settings to support our children and young people to improve physically literacy

• Ensure all children and young people to have the knowledge, understanding, skills and motivation necessary to equip them for a healthy lifestyle and lifelong participation in physical activity and sport

• Ensure support is maintained from the team of Primary Physical Education Specialist Teachers for all practitioners and learners in primary schools

• Provide opportunities for all primary aged children to engage in learning to swim

• Instil an inclusive policy where all learners are provided with opportunities to access the National physical education curriculum in secondary schools.

Potential Solutions: We will strive to...

• Ensure all children and young people are provided with the national recommendation of 2 hours /2 periods a week of physical education (to develop physical confidence and competence)

• Provide annual, up to date and effective physical education professional learning for all primary and secondary school practitioners

• Ensure early years, primary and secondary practitioners work together to ensure continuity and progression in learning across all stages

• Retain Primary Physical Education Specialist Team providing support (planning, learning, and teaching) to practitioners where required. School Leaders to identify the development needs of primary practitioners and allocate physical education specialist support time as appropriate

• Develop a Forest Schools offer to engage all schools in developing the confidence and competence of young people in the outdoor green environment, and in a greener future

• Provide a full professional learning day dedicated to Health Improvement annually. Delivered by internal practitioners’, with external partners invited to support. Staff will participate in a variety of practical and theoretical sessions.