The physical activity and well-being in Education podcast from Education Durham – a podcast for school and education colleagues in County Durham and beyond.
Hosted by Kate Stephenson (Education Development Adviser and Physical Education Specialist), our termly episodes bring to school and education colleagues topical updates and discussions designed to inform and inspire. Each episode will explore a different topic with the help of knowledgeable guest speakers.
With an informal and accessible approach, our short half-termly episodes are designed for busy school staff and educationalists wherever they are.
Want to know more, or have a suggestion for a future topic? Please contact us cpd@durham.gov.uk
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5. School swimming, a duty of care
25 minutes | 11 July 2022 | Episode Five Transcript.pdf
In this bonus episode, Kate considers the role school and school staff play in the development of swimming skills for all pupils and the importance of drown prevention and water safety campaigns. Kate considers strategic planning to ensure pupils are safe in or near water in the coming Summer months and to value the importance of learn to swim programmes, a statutory requirement of the Physical Educational National Curriculum. Learning to swim broadens access to a range of water based activity for children and adults alike and ultimately may save a life. With Sport England Statistics fearing that figures will rise still further to ‘three in five children not meeting the end of key stage two national swimming requirements by the 2025-26 academic year.’ What are schools doing to reduce this fearful statistic?
4. Pupil voice
43 minutes | 29 June 2022 | Episode Four Transcript.pdf
Kate is joined by her secondary school Physical Education (PE) colleagues involved in her professional development programme and projects for change, funded by Sport England aimed at improving the engagement and positive experiences of secondary school pupils. Together they welcome guest, Kiera Byerland who shares her own experience of and barriers to accessible PE and school sport as a previous Special Educational Needs pupil in her school, and we celebrate too, her later fantastic achievements and contribution to the world of sport and leadership. We are encouraged to reflect upon how inclusive our PE, school sport and physical activity provision is within our schools and settings.
3. Life-long movers
40 minutes | 7 March 2022 | Episode Three Transcript.pdf
Kate is joined by guest Gethin Thomas, an independent consultant working within the fields of education, health, and wellbeing, and physical literacy informed practice. Gethin shares our County Durham vision for all pupils to develop physical literacy. Along with our advisor Kate they call for schools and settings to consider the effectiveness of their planned Physical Education Curriculum in supporting the development of skills and knowledge physically, cognitively, and within wider developmental aims that motivate and build confidence for lifelong participation in movement.
2. Triumphs and learnings
45 minutes | 19 November 2021 | Episode Two Transcript.pdf
Recorded topically after the success of Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics, in this very special episode, Kate is joined by guest Chris Cook, former Olympic GB Swimmer, Commonwealth, World Championship, and Commonwealth Games champion and well-known ambassador for school swimming. Chris shares his experience of performing at such a top-level, the triumphs, difficulties, and learnings from his swim career and together Chris and Kate explore the personal development opportunities that quality PE, School Sport, and Physical Activity can offer for children and young people, as well of course about the much needed ‘learn to swim’ opportunity for all.
1. Look back to look ahead
42 minutes | 24 September 2021 | Episode One Transcript
In this episode, Kate talks to the chair of The Association for Physical Education (PE) Sue Wilkinson about the Primary PE & School Sport Premium, school compliance, and understanding of developmental needs, as they consider the new term ahead and reflect upon a difficult and challenging year for the teaching profession. This episode was recorded in July 2021.
An introduction from Kate
4.5 minutes | 2 August 2021 | Introductory Episode Transcript