SPORT
provide. Far from being separate to the academic side of life, it can help boost achievement and build engagement. Take Impington Village College, where all teaching assistants within the school’s alternative provision are qualified sports coaches. By finding new, sports-based approaches to engage with pupils who aren’t achieving as they should, they can make a real difference – going outside to kick a football around or using darts to tackle a maths problem, defusing situations before they can escalate. At St Faith’s, PE and games can be a lifeline for pupils with learning challenges. High-energy sports can help those who have issues with focus or concentration, while swimming or trampolining assist others who have sensory needs. At a time when pupils face an incredibly uncertain future, our areas’ schools are harnessing sports in all their glorious variety to bolster skills, values and confidence – which has to be a good thing. “In a world where young people face increasing academic pressure and digital distraction, sport is one of the most powerful engines of wellbeing, belonging and character,” concludes Peta Girdwood at The Perse.
A BROAD EDUCATION Schools such as Impington Village College (above) and The Perse (below) believe that putting energy into sports like football or cricket in turn helps pupils focus in the classroom
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