You are starting your first teaching job or have been assigned as PE lead for your school – what does being a PE lead mean and how can you make sure you do the best for your children and the school?
Being the PE lead means you have overall responsibility for the PE, school sport and physical activity (PESSPA) programme in your school. This doesn’t necessarily mean you will deliver every PE lesson or extra curricular activity, but you will be responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of the school PESSPA offer. You will also be responsible for supporting staff to deliver a high quality curriculum, assessing children accurately and look at embedding physical activity opportunities into the school day.
What does a PE lead do?
One of your responsibilities will be to develop a broad and balanced curriculum that has a clear intent relative to the need of your children. Ensuring that all staff delivering PE lessons are aware of the long term plan and have access to training and support if required to deliver high quality lessons will be key. As a PE lead, your role may be much wider than the requirements of the curriculum – facilitating a well structured programme of physical activities, exercises and sports opportunities to encourage the physical development, fitness, health and wellbeing of children in the school. While the specifics of the role will vary between schools, here are the main areas that you may be responsible for:
- Developing and facilitating the schools PESSPA offer in accordance with national guidelines
- Working with other teachers to ensure physical education/activity is integrated into the broader school curriculum
- Providing professional development and training (directly or indirectly) to other teachers in the school to help them deliver high quality physical education
- Monitoring PESSPA sessions to ensure that they are appropriate for the age and ability level of the children
- Ensuring the school’s PESSPA programme is inclusive and accessible to all children, regardless of their abilities or background
- Organising a programme of extra curricular activities
- Developing inter and intra school competitions opportunities
- Introducing children to a variety of new activities and sports, widening their experiences
- Helping children understand why it is important to be active every day
- Developing a positive attitude towards physical activity and sports, and encouraging children to take part in exercise and sport regularly
- Managing a budget – identifying the best ways to spend the School Sport Premium funding to have the biggest impact
Being a PE lead is an immensely rewarding role and often is much bigger than people realise. You have the chance to make a significantly positive difference to the physical, social and mental health and wellbeing of the children in your care. If done well, this will have a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of future generations.
You will have the opportunity to work with colleagues across the school as well as contacts within the local community.