Primary Advocate Head Teacher programme

Background

The Primary Advocate Head Teacher project combines the knowledge, influence, expertise and enthusiasm of 14 primary school head teachers from across England. The aim of the project is to inform and influence primary schools of the benefits of PE and School Sport and to encourage support for SSPs in PESSYP related work.
There are fourteen Primary Advocate Head Teachers from across the country including infant, junior and special schools. The project commenced in March 2009 and the role of the group members is as follows;

• to have a local (and wider) impact on specific areas e.g. transition, participation and coaching
• to meet with schools to respond to regional/local issues
• to carry out bespoke development work on behalf of YST
• to communicate key messages
• to achieve primary representation at key strategic levels
• to ensure agenda time at local meetings for PE and school sport
• to ensure connection between PESSYP/YST and PLTs.

They have been seconded to the YST for 5 days between April 2009 and March 2010.

Who are they?

Table 1 shows the schools involved in the programme.  Click on a school name below to view head teacher profiles.

Table 1: Primary Advocate Head Teacher Schools 2009/2010

What will they do?

There are three key elements to their work;

1. SSP conference workshop/key note speech development and delivery

2. local/regional advocacy to support SSPs

3. innovate development programmes.

Following an initial meeting in March 2009 the Head Teachers developed workshop and key note content for the SSP conference in the following topics;

• increasing the PE confidence and competence of NQTs
• informing and influencing School Governing Bodies
• using coaches to increase the quality and quantity of PE and school sport
• delivering the 5hr offer through the school day.

Feed back on the contributions of Primary Advocate Head Teachers at the SSP conference has been very positive and they will be supporting the development of solutions in the following areas;

• recommendations for induction support for NQTs
• creating a governors resource to enable SSPs to direct primary governors to information on how PE and school sport can support their school
• exploring how coaches can be embedded in a schools workforce.

They have also been provided with a slot at the National Association of Head Teachers conference in November 2009. This will be used to convey the positive impact of PE and school sport on young people’s attainment, behaviour and achievement.

How do I access a Primary Advocate Head Teacher?

Each Primary Advocate Head Teacher will be left with approximately three days following the conference, therefore making best use of their time is important. PDMs are encouraged to contact their Development Manager in order to start the following process;

1. discuss what key issues they are seeking to address with head teachers in their SSP/region

2. discuss what previous action has been taken to address this issue

3. if the DM feels that the use of a Primary Advocate Head Teacher is appropriate then the PDM is to complete a visit request form

4. we will then try to locate a suitable and available Primary Advocate Head Teacher and inform the DM/PDM.