British Council and WCED collaborate on Physical Education
4 May 2023
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and the British Council have collaborated to deliver world class coaching training for local teachers.
The focus was on primary school Life Orientation teachers and 50 teachers, out of well over 80 applicants, were invited to attend the Premier Skills Physical Education Coaching Course held at the Rygersdal Football Club facility in Rondebosch. The facilitators were from the English Premier League, the most popular professional football league in the world.
The Premier Skills Physical Education Coaching Course is run by the English Premier League and the British Council and endorsed by South African Council of Educators (SACE). It provides teachers in South Africa with world-class coaching training, learning resources and physical education activities, using the power of football to inspire children to learn, be active and develop important life skills. The course aims to help teachers enhance their skills and knowledge to deliver Physical Education and Life Orientation to primary school learners which in turn will increase learners’ participation, enjoyment, and skills in sports activity. The teachers were each provided with a soccer kit, training material and a certificate of completion at the end of the five-day training programme which included theory and practical sessions. Participants thoroughly enjoyed the experience and did not mind sacrificing a long weekend to attend the course.
The Premier League coaches were impressed by the level of participation and commitment from the teachers. The facilitators themselves were dynamic and had the teachers ‘captured’ for the duration of the training. Subject Advisers from the various districts were there in support, including the two Senior Curriculum Planners, Ivan Fortuine and Ismail Teladia. On the final day of training, the teachers put together a festival for 80 learners from various schools in Cape Town. The top performing teachers will be identified to attend an advanced cause in July this year.
The outcomes for the teachers attending the training are as follows:
- Plan a safe, purposeful, enjoyable and inclusive PE session or use PE activities within lessons
- Help learners to improve and make progress
- Observe and analyse performance of the group and individuals
- Adapt a session plan to suit the needs of the group and individuals
- Provide feedback to learners to enable them to progress
- Encourage learners to contribute to the evaluation of a PE session
- Adapt sessions to reflect local circumstances including equipment, resources and environment
- Create a safe environment and explain how to help prevent accidents and injuries
- Access and manage the environment to minimise risk
- Explain the actions they would take following an accident, injury or illness during a coaching session/game.
- Demonstrate safe practice when working with children and vulnerable adults, adhering to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
