Health and Physical Education

STEVEN BAKER

Head of Health and Physical

Education

2015 was a progressive year in the TSS Physical Education Department. The clear pathway for boys to follow from Year 7 to Year 12 is bolstered with underpinning principles of age-appropriate Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD), leadership opportunities and outstanding program development and results in Senior Physical Education and Recreation Studies. The Physical Education Department this year had an experienced staff, including the Director of Rugby, Mr Adrian Blundell, the Director of Athletics and Cross Country, Mr Andrew Stalling, First XV Coach Mike Wallace, Assistant Director of Athletics/First XV Manager Greg Norman and the Director of Sport, Mr Bryan Hain. The cutting edge Sports Excellence program for Years 7-10 Physical Education lessons continues to evolve. This program has offered the boys to select from a wide range of sporting options each term working with selected specialist staff in these areas. This has allowed for very high-quality teaching and learning, effectively allowing for us to offer “Sports Excellence” training in PE time. Furthermore, the Years 7-10 lessons have been periodised, working towards components of fitness in core strength, running and agility technique, plyometrics (jump/power training), core stability and flexibility. The activities conducted were age appropriate and are fundamental components of the National Curriculum, as well as providing health improvement and injury prevention. This was progressively developed through the year from base-level aerobic fitness with cross-country running through to athletics and athleticism training then swimming as key movement proficiencies. Compulsory fitness tests are conducted each semester and this was itemised and reported to parents coupled to diligence grades and TSS average results. This feedback allows boys to track their progress against national standards and to provide feedback on their performance, progress and effort. As a department we made the step of performing reparation work with boys who were below average standard on the aerobic tests. This was extremely successful as the majority of boys (with much work) were able to achieve significant improvement in their performance. The careful planning of Years 7-10 Physical Education has allowed the successful transition from Junior Health and Physical Education to Senior Board Physical Education and Recreation Studies.

In 2015, Senior Board Physical Education included Cricket, Touch Football, Volleyball and Golf in a program that integrated theoretical content learnt in Sports Psychology, Training Principles, Sociology and Biomechanics. Further improvement in use of ICT and resourcing on Moodle, with improvement in drafting, academic writing, research methods and referencing, has also assisted the results of the Year 12 cohort in an outstanding effort to set a high standard for the Year 11s to emulate in 2016. In fact, the achievement of around one-third of the Year 12 PE cohort to achieve a VHA is an outstanding effort across their practical and theoretical work. This performance has not been seen in the seven years I have been HOD. Well done to all boys and staff involved in the subject and special mention goes to Tyler Campbell who received the Year 12 PE Prize for top achievement. Mr Mike Wallace and Mr Peter Bromley delivered the Senior PE Lessons exceptionally well through Years 11 and 12 as we continue to refine and evolve in seeking best practice in the subject area.

This year has also seen the Board Registered Recreation Studies move towards the new work program to include practical and theoretical components of striking skills, fishing and surf skills, invasion games and strength and conditioning. Underpinning these activities was development of coaching and leadership development through giving boys ownership and responsibilities in leading/organising/implementing a whole range of activities towards potential employment in the booming Recreation industry. Finally, congratulations to the graduating Year 12s, and I would like to commend the work of all staff on a great year.