‘Inspiring and Motivating’ – Keeping Pupils Fit and Healthy in PE and Games

This Half term of Remote Teaching and Learning has seen a range of exciting opportunities in PE and Games provided by the RGS Sports Department, as they have worked hard to motivate RGS pupils to keep fit and active during ‘lockdown’. 

Highlights so far this term have included: 

Core Physical Education lessons

Remote lessons have continued with pupils following the Health and Fitness scheme of work where they learn specific techniques for a variety of fitness-based activities. Each lesson included a ‘first five activity’, the RGS Activate programme followed by a workout created and demonstrated by our Head of Strength and Conditioning, Mr Brindley. 

Academic Physical Education lessons

Remote Teaching has continued for GCSE Physical Education, A Level Physical Education and BTEC Sport lessons and we have made adaptations to the curriculum where needed, in order to progress further through the specification. We continue to explore new online ideas such as the Upper Sixth BTEC class, who are becoming trained Barre instructors as part of their Unit 4 Sports Leadership. We have also trained in the Everlearner ‘Exam Simulator’ software, which will assist with online marking, assessment and pupil/teacher feedback for GCSE Physical Education. 

Games lessons

Remote Games lessons have been delivered ‘live’ via Google Meet every afternoon, with all pupils participating in physical activity. We have also created a host of ideas and resources that pupils can access at any time which are kept in electronic PE folders on Showbie. 

Inspirational Sports Talks

Other exciting events to inspire pupils have included: Rugby Sports Psychologist, Lyle Kirkham of ‘Spark Performance’ delivering an online seminar about the importance of culture and creating a team identity, a Netball Zoom session with Severn Stars sensation Lucy Herdman, to hear her inspirational story and take part in virtual coaching drills and skills and a ‘live’ Q&A with inspirational Hockey Olympic legends, Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh.

Athlete Development Programme (ADP)

The Aspire programme has delivered a series of lectures to pupils via Google Meet. Session topics have included ‘dealing with pressure’ and ‘how to train and get the most out of training during lockdown’, as well as various physical challenges and video analysis work. Our remote Elite programme has seen our athletes continue to access their individualised timetabled ADP session, in order to ensure they are staying on track for their sports performance. Heads of Sport have provided technical skills videos to analyse their own performance, and athletes can access their mentors through their planned Google Meet sessions.

Extra-curricular provision

The Sports Department ‘Daily Challenge’ has been popular with pupils, staff and parents alike, and can be found each day on Showbie and the RGS Worcester Sport Twitter – @rgswsport. Each day sets challenges with the following themes:

• Motivation Monday
• Threshold Tuesday 
• Workout Wednesday
• Thinking Thursday
• Fun Friday

House Competition

The latest House event this week has been the virtual RGS House Winter Olympic Games! Challenges have included Skiing Speed Bounce, Biathlon Ski/Shoot, Skeleton Press Up, Speed Skating Jump, Ski Jump Squat Jump and Figure Skating Pirouettes. Well done to all who participated. Results will be announced after Half term. 

Miss Emma Pollard

Head of PE