School is many children’s only chance to be active.

And being in the midst of a pandemic in which restrictions abound, this is ever more pressing.

Lockdown number one saw a drastic drop in children’s activity levels, with only 19% meeting the recommended 1 hour of physical activity per day.

Since returning to school in September, children have been 47% more physically active. 

As we write this, however, we’ve entered lockdown number two spanning November and edging into December.

Lockdown two has one significant difference though, schools are to remain open. But, with sports clubs closing and time outside limited, the pressure on schools to keep children’s activity levels up weighs heavy.

To support schools, the Association for Physical Education (afPE), Active Partnerships and Youth Sport Trust have put together 'Covid-19 and school funding: 7 top tips for spending the Primary PE and Sport Premium'. Used effectively, this funding has the potential...

£85.5 billion is the combined economic and social value of taking part in sport and physical activity in England.

We’ll just leave that there for a moment.

£85.5 billion.

The sum is the result of a new major study undertaken by Sport England and Sheffield Hallam University. The report concluded that, taking account the costs of engagement and opportunity provision, for every £1 spent on sport and physical activity, a return on investment (ROI) of £3.91 was created for individuals and society in 2017/18. 

So, when we say that enhancing your knowledge, skills and confidence to inspire children to lead and embrace active lifestyles is worth it, you see it really is.

And it’s not just a figure, it’s about what makes up that figure.

It’s the:

• 150,000 cases of heart disease and stroke prevented
• 900,000 cases of diabetes prevented
• 8,500 cases of cancer prevented
• 93,000 cases of dementia prevented
• 375,000 cases of depression prevented
• ...

Nationally and internationally known Education Consultant, Crichton Casbon MA (Curriculum Studies), is your course designer and leader.

A lifetime’s experience within the world of PE and the physical curriculum lends Crichton a unique expertise and wealth of knowledge that he shares within every module of this course.

What is this lifetime of experience?

• 17 years as a secondary school PE teacher – 15 of those as head of department and 2 as Head of PSHE
• 8 years as a PE adviser in East Sussex, teaching in 220+ schools and designing and leading ‘legendary’ training in all aspects of the physical curriculum
• 11 years at QCA writing the national curriculum programmes of study and schemes of work
• As Subject Officer and Adviser at QCA, he led the research and impact arm of the PESS project for 7 years
• Manager of the review of the secondary national curriculum 2007-2008
• Joint author with Dr Lynne Spackman of Assessment in PE
• Author of several...