What is it?
The National CPD Program is part of the national Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) strategy. It aims to raise the quality of teaching, coaching and learning in PE and school sport in order to raise the attainment of all pupils. The program provides training courses and resources in PE for Head teachers, teachers, Teaching Assistants and Adults Other Than Teachers in primary and secondary schools.

Why has the programme been developed?
The National CPD Program links directly to the joint DfES and DCMS Public Service Agreement (PSA) target. The aim is to increase the percentage of school children in England who spend a minimum of 2 hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75% by 2006 and to 85% by 2008. To help achieve this aim, one of the targets is to ‘improve the quality of teaching, coaching and learning in PE and school sport’. In order to ensure high quality PE and school sport, teachers and others need enhanced levels of development and support. The National CPD Program will ensure that they have the tools and expertise that they need.

What support does the program offer?

The program provides support to:

• Deliver a broad, balanced and inclusive high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to raise pupils’ attainment;
• Improve the understanding of how high quality PE and school sport can be used as a tool for whole school improvement, particularly in terms of attendance, behaviour management and attainment;
• Improve the understanding of how high quality PE and schools sport can be used to support healthy lifestyles and physical activity;
• Encourage more innovation interpretation of the PE program of study to better meet the needs of all pupils to enhance achievement;
• Enhance cross-phase continuity to improve pupils’ progress in order to support a whole school approach to improvement and raising standards.

How is the program delivered?
The program is delivered through a varied and balanced menu of resources (including videos, workshops, mentoring opportunities and interactive training). Schools (head teachers, PE Coordinators from primary; Heads of PE and Senior Management Team staff from secondary) will first need to attend a review workshop (related to supporting whole school improvement through PE and school sport) and then complete a school self-review to identify training. The needs will then be analysed and teachers will be assigned to the relevant professional development opportunity to meet their needs.

The program consists of 25 primary modules and 25 secondary modules, made up of delivery and resource based CPD opportunities. Each module is accompanied by supporting resources, all of which, signpost other useful resources.

Managed by the Schools Advisory Service, the program is already being rolled-out in Kent.

For details of review workshops and CPD opportunities in Kent please contact the Schools Advisory Service on 01622 203800.