Year 9 gifted and talented days

Published 10 January 2012

Nearly three hundred pupils from East Sussex partnership secondary schools recently attended the annual gifted and talented days for year nine pupils. The days were organised and facilitated by physical education students from Chelsea School of Sport.

The year 9 gifted and talented days aim to highlight ways in which schools can include the teaching and learning of ‘alternative’ physical activities within the formal physical education curriculum and develop pupils’ social, physical, creative, cognitive and personal development.

The activities in which the pupils participated included indoor orienteering exercises, speed agility and quickness Training (SAQ) multi skills, gymnastic and sports acrobatics, aerobic dance, and team building and problem-solving activities.

Pupils were able to identify and solve problems to overcome challenges of an adventurous nature. These include activities in which success is judged on how efficiently and safely challenges are overcome.

The activities also helped pupils to understand ways in which success is judged on the ability to repeat actions, phrases and sequences of movement as perfectly as possible.

The purpose was to ensure that pupils were exercising safely and effectively to improve health and wellbeing, as in fitness and health activities. These included activities in which success is related to improving feelings of health, fitness and wellbeing. Goals might include emotional wellbeing, healthy weight management, toned muscles, healthy skin and a healthy heart.  The day was overseen by senior lecturer Dr Gary Stidder.