Context
Background Information
Uptake of the School Games Mark has traditionally been high in our SGO area (as high as 76% in 2018) but following the pandemic the number dropped by 18%.
The number of SG Marks has been a strong predictor of engagement in the SGO offer but the pandemic, along with a high turnover of PE Subject Leaders at the start of the 2022/23 academic year (41% of primary schools engaged in 2021/22 changed) impacted the level of engagement.
Attendance at events throughout 2021/22 had been unpredictable with some events being cancelled at short notice and some events proceeding with much lower numbers of participants than normal.
What was the aim of work?
By highlighting the way the offer supported schools to provide evidence in support of the SG Mark from the start of the year, I hoped to ensure an increase in SG Mark applications and as a consequence to drive up participation in the SG offer.
Which outcome(s) did it focus on?
- 1. To advocate and position the delivery of the CMO daily active minutes for all young people, as a universal offer to maintain and grow school engagement
Which expectation(s) did it meet?
- Developing strategies to improve knowledge and understanding of the School Games for key stakeholders.
- Prioritising resources to implement meaningful youth engagement so young people have a voice and choice of opportunity.
- Work with schools to maintain and grow their active engagement in School Games.
- Identify schools that are not engaged and developing strategies to improve this.
- 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.
- Establish a clear method of communication with all schools within the SGO area.
- Encourage the use of tools, such as School Games Mark, Inclusive Health Check and Active School Planner to help schools better understand their needs.
- Planning for and increasing delivery of 60 active minutes for every child.
- Provide an offer of professional development and communication for all schools to increase their understanding and increase their provision of 60 active minutes.
- Work intensively with a minimum of two low engagement schools to improve their understanding, engagement and access of the School Games offer.
- Co-ordinate and signpost schools and young people to a programme of relevant training of leadership, coaching, volunteering and officiating experiences.
- 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
- Headteacher group
- Local authority
- Public health lead
Intent
Overview
I intended to see increased engagement in my SG offer and in SG Mark applications, in order to ensure engagement from a greater number of children from the target groups identified locally. This was in response to lower than typical uptake of SG Mark and SG opportunities in 2021/22. I analysed data from yourschoolgames.com (SG Mark Award reports and participation reports) and made sure I considered the insight within The Acorn Care Community Profiles for my area, plus the IMD Data, NCMP Data and Active Lives Survey results. In preparing the offer I ensured I considered the results of our KS1, KS2 & KS3/4 School Games surveys which had been completed by 2,508 children in 2021/22 to inform planning.
Target group
- All School Staff
- All Young People
- Primary Schools
- School Governors
- Secondary Schools
- Senior Leaders
Implementation
In September I ensured the SG Mark results from 2021/22 were celebrated with ALL schools (regardless of whether they applied or not) - this included via a newsletter, an article in the local newspaper which named the successful schools and a presentation by the mayor.
When the national SG Mark criteria was released I shared these with all PE Subject Leaders along with a one-page SG Mark planner I had created, complete with the expected local evidence schools could expect to gather through engagement with my SG programme (this was also shared with the SGO network with generic evidence included). To accompany this I recorded a 20 minute SG Mark webinar for all schools which meant that they could watch it at a time convenient to themselves. The webinar covered the rationale for applying for a SG mark, the application process, how to use the SG Mark planner and what to engage with throughout the year.
Specific reference was made to the SG Mark at inductions for new PE Subject Leaders delivered in late September/early October.
Following this, I then delivered the SG offer and considered which of the SG Mark criteria each of the opportunities provided supported. Wherever possible I spoke with PE Subject Leaders (especially those new to the role or who hadn't engaged in the SG Mark) to make sure they knew how attending the opportunity was helping the with their SG Mark application.
In late Spring/early Summer term I provided a number of opportunities for PE Subject Leaders to talk to me about the application at SG Mark Surgeries. These ensured I could remind everyone of the purpose of the awards, the criteria they were working towards and what evidence they'd be expected to produce. By undertaking these surgeries in the middle of the year, it also allowed schools who were not meeting some of the criteria to plan to include them in their summer programmes.
Following the successful completion of the SG programme I then held three SG Mark completion meetings, where PE Subject Leaders could attend to hear more from myself and other schools about the meaning and scope of evidence for each question. As schools completed the application there and then I was able to check all the evidence required for a large number of applications at the same time, plus also ensuring a higher standard of application because of the sharing of good practice by all in attendance.
Impact
- SG Mark planner tool downloaded by 84% of schools.
- SG Mark Webinar viewed by 55% of these schools.
- SG Mark Surgery attended by 31% of these schools (including by all new PE Subject Leaders).
- Increased participation in the SG overall by 77%
- Increased engagement in the SG by individual schools by 62%
- Increased participation in the SG by key target groups (ethnic minority groups by 81%; children from schools in target localities [where a lower than base average percentage of residents are deemed 'Healthy'; girls where the area achieved equality for the first time; pupils with SEND by 110%).
- Trebled the number of leadership opportunities in the SG
- Increased engagement of schools who did not engage in 2021/22 (SG Mark applications from 8 schools who didn't apply last year)
- All schools who had applied by the time of writing cited that they had received support over the academic year with the 60 active minutes agenda (32% agree, 68% strongly agree).
Comments from PE Subject Leaders include:
"Our SGO is easily accessible for advice and support when needed. Our SGO supports our Health and Well-being days."
"Engagement is regular and lots of information is given"
"Great support throughout the year and extensive and well organised timetable of competitions."
"Increased opportunities for the least confident children (celebrate events) has has an impact on the children's enthusiasm in representing their school."
"Regular communication is done throughout the year. Clear details, programmes and opportunities are maintained along with an open discussion channel for advice and pointers."
"Speaking with SGO about PE planning document that was re-designed this year."
"The Celebrate events have really encouraged some of our less active children to participate and they have shown this in PE lessons."
"This year, a focus has been to increase the amount of opportunities available for children to take part in physical activity. This has been done through increased participation in inter-school competitions, Play Leader training and taking part in competitions to promote active travel."
Challenges
Schools all keen to increase their uptake of the offer but some external factors still preventing full access e.g. transport costs.
Regardless of the notice given for some development activities (e.g. the SG Mark Surgeries and completion meetings), some PE Subject Leaders give these a lower priority than events and other opportunities for their pupils, meaning I still need to offer more intensive/bespoke support to these.
Sustainability
Strong engagement wouldn't be possible without a significant amount of support being provided, especially when the turnover of PE Subject leaders continues to be high, although revising the support prepared (e.g. SG Mark planner, Webinar and Surgery presentations) on an annual basis means less and less new activity should be required each year.
I would also like to make more use of those who had been through the process a number of times before (e.g. Platinum SG Mark recipients) to advocate for applications and support new PE Subject Leaders.
Top tips
Top tips
Plan how you will engage schools and build this into your programme/calendar.
Look for opportunities to highlight the link between the evidence needed for SG Mark and the opportunities you offer.
Try to track engagement and monitor uptake of opportunity by all schools and by your target schools. Review this tracking regularly and take steps to encourage schools to engage where you feel they need to.
Celebrate engagement & achievement (excessively!) no matter how strong it feels to you as SGO, as it's more likely you'll engage people this way.