Context
Background Information
Engaging Alternative Provision and Pupil referral units has been a priority across the Greater Manchester School Games network for the last 12 months. Working with GM Moving, a network of AP/PRU settings has been established across the county to offer School Games opportunities county wide. Currently, despite best efforts, no setting from the Wigan borough is part of this network. At present, it is proving difficult to establish contact with any AP/PRU in Wigan, it is not known, in some cases, where these settings exist.
Across the borough, mainstream secondary schools are beginning to deliver their own on site alternative provision, rather than sending pupils to alternative settings. Lowton C of E High School, SGO host site has developed this approach - the Engage unit - within the school building. Pupils access this unit on a termly basis and work on an alternative curriculum with the aim to progress through their own targets and re-integrate into mainstream education.
Furthermore the host site hasn't engaged over recent years in the targeted events offered through the School Games calendar in Wigan.
Identifying these secondary schools with Alternative Provision units was seen as an effective way to engage these pupils into the School Games programme.
What was the aim of work?
The event was developed to engage a new cohort of pupils into the School Games programme, targetting those who are struggling to access a mainstream curriculum and are in need of extra support.
To engage the host site in School Games events by engaging different staff members from the PE department, who have found it challenging to attend School Games events which take place during the day for a number of years.
By engaging wider school staff and a targeted cohort of pupils, the profile of School Games will be raised within the host site, which in turn will hopefully lead to greater engagement with the programme.
Which outcome(s) did it focus on?
- 2. To ensure all competition has a clear intent and creates positive experiences based on the motivation, competence and confidence of the young people that need our support the most
- 3. To have a clear focus on secondary school engagement and transition points
- 5. To advocate and engage key stakeholders on the value of School Games to support local provision and improve the experience for young people and their families
Which expectation(s) did it meet?
- Using local insight and youth engagement to identify young people and schools that would most benefit from a targeted School Games offer.
- Work with schools to maintain and grow their active engagement in School Games.
- Develop a communication plan to boost the profile of the host site and demonstrates the value of school sport to other schools in the area.
- Co-design and deliver a broad and balanced School Games offer that is informed by insight and youth engagement and embeds positive experiences. It is expected that an SGO will facilitate a minimum of 12 targeted inter competitions/events/festivals with clear intent.
Community links
- Active Partnerships
Intent
Overview
The event was developed to engage a hard to reach cohort of young people into the School Games, by targeting those finding it difficult to access and progress through a mainstream curriculum.
To offer an opportunity to engage the Host site into a School Games event through wider school staff beyond the PE department, thus raising an awareness & the profile of School Games in the host site school.
Target group
- Behavioural Challenges
- Secondary Schools
- Targeted Groups of Young People
Aligns to Schools Games Intents of:
- Build social skills and connections (i.e. sense of belonging)
- Engage new/target groups of young people (tackling inequalities)
- To engage/influence wider stakeholders
Implementation
Following the success of a Panathlon Ten Pin Bowling festival earlier in the term, it was decided that Ten Pin Bowling would make for a great event for this target cohort.
The atmosphere and environment of the bowling alley is relaxed and welcoming and whilst being a competitive event, it allows for the competition element to exist in a non traditional way where schools are indirectly competing against each other whilst taking part separately and at their own pace.
The event was delivered during a morning slot when the bowling alley is traditionally quieter and was advertised as a 1 hour 30 minute event. Schools agreed that this was a good amount of time for these youngsters to be engaged. A team for the event was advertised as up to 6 pupils although schools could bring multiple teams.
The event was advertised as part of the School Games event calendar and highlighted during the start of term network meeting. Secondary school PE staff were encouraged to share the details with relevant staff members in their schools.
Both SGO's made contact with their own host site AP units to invite them along to the event. Both schools were on board and delighted to be invited straight away. A further secondary school was also targeted due to a member of the PE department, with whom there was an existing relationship, is involved in the AP work within the school. No other schools responded to the information on the calendar or following the face to face network meeting.
Plans were then made to hold the event with 3 engaged schools as a good start point for our first Alternative Provision event.
Alternative Provision manager at Lowton C of E High School, used the event to motivate pupils towards their targets whilst in the Engage unit. Pupils who were making progress within the unit were invited to represent school in the event.
Schools split their group of pupils across two lanes with each team having one game of bowling with each pupil bowling twice during each round to allow for more opportunities to participate with less 'waiting' time. Schools were briefed on arrival with the format for the event and how to do the coring and input names, once ready schools began bowling in their own time rather than waiting for all schools to start together. This allowed schools to move at their own pace and begin quickly without any waiting around to start. School staff were in agreement that this was the best approach for these pupils.
Upon completion of the game gold, silver & bronze medals were awarded along with blue School Games participation medals for all remaining teams. There were also awards for the overall top 3 performers.
Impact
In total 3 schools attended with a total of 20 pupils. Head of Alternate Provision at Lowton C of E High School was delighted to be involved and invited to take part and used the event to select pupils who have made progress on their targets within the Engage unit. Of the pupils engaged some are on the ASD spectrum, have SEMH needs, one pupil is a school refusar. There are behavioral concerns linked to anxiety and acting out in defiance as well as persistent low attendance. All pupils are encouraged to self reflect and build positive relationships through the Engage unit. All but one of the pupils have not represented school before and none have been involved in School Games.
The opportunity to represent school in an out of school event helps build their self esteem and sense of belonging within school. The event motivated pupils to continue their progress and work towards targets whilst within the engage unit.
Thankyou so much for organising the event on Monday and for inviting us to participate. We really appreciated it.
The pupils all enjoyed it and were really pleased to be invited. They recognised that not everyone in Engage was invited and that they were chosen as a reflection of some of the progress that they had made.
We would love to be invited again to take part. - Head of Alternative Provision
One team from Lowton Cof E High School were crowned the winners of the competition. One member of the team had never bowled before and was very anxious at the start of the event. During the event, we observed this pupils demeanor change from anxious to relaxed to enjoyment of the event. The pupil in question also placed third overall and so left with two medals and commented on how they had never won medals before and loved them! The pupils who left the event that day were all walking tall with their medals and went back to school proud of their achievements and thankful for the opportunity to represent school.
The profile of School Games and the work done through the programme is now recognised by the Head of Alternative Provision and SLT members within the Host site. This is the first targeted event which the host site has engaged with since the pandemic. This event has now put the School Games programme on the radar for staff at the Host site and with continued engagement through the Head of Alternative Provision will hopefully lead to more opportunities for the host site.
Challenges
Engagement of more secondary schools proved difficult. Many more (almost all in the borough) schools have this alternative provision setting on site with cohorts of pupils who could be supported through School Games. We will continue to push the message through PE departments to support us to make contact with appropriate members of staff in schools.
As with most events, schools arrive at various times - one school arrived late to the event due to an incident back in school. Waiting for all schools to arrive for a formal briefing and welcome is not appropriate for the cohort of pupils in attendance. What we learnt was that a formal structure isn't necessary, and that by allowing schools to simply arrive, start and leave when done ensured the competition was more successful for staff and pupils alike.
Sustainability
Following discussions with Head of AP, a School Games event for Alternative Provision pupils will now feature in the calendar at the end of each term throughout the year. The school will use these events as part of their Engage programme as a motivation and support for young people to work towards their targets.
Our next event will be an adaptation of our successful action festivals which use a local leisure center with an adventure zone. Pupils will take part in climbing, scootering and an assault course. The event and the activities involved will allow pupils to develop confidence and build determination and resilience. School staff agreed that this would further enhance the support and impact that events like this will bring.
The three schools who attended will be invited again, along with the success shared of this first event with the aim to engage further schools.
Top tips
Top tips
Offer activities and/or events which are in a fun relaxed environment where competition can happen but winning is not the focus.
Don't try to stick to a formal structure and allow schools to arrive, play and leave to suit their pupils needs.
Seek out and engage staff from beyond our PE departments.
Related sport/s
- Tenpin Bowling