Training/Workshops
Q What are the outcomes of the training workshops?
A The production of an action plan with the objective of increasing participation and enjoyment in PE and physical activity and as a direct result, improved health & wellbeing for girls and young women.
- Better knowledge and confidence in how to provide activities for girls that are successful in increasing their participation.
- Girls consulted and involved in meaningful activities that will increase participation.
- More activities available.
- Support in implementing the Fit for Girls action plan and the delivery of new activities targeting inactive girls.
- Improved relationships building on partnership working opportunities.
Q What will the workshop cover?
A The workshop-based session encourages key practitioners to reflect on current practice and begin the process of positive change.
Q Who should attend the workshop?
A Ideally the whole PE department including the PT of PE, Active Schools Coordinators/Manager should also attend. However the school may also consider primary PE staff, primary Active Schools Cordinators, sports development/leisure staff, youth workers, social workers, volunteers and senior pupils. The workshop is designed to have maximum impact on cross-team representatives from the local authority focusing on girl’s activity in one secondary cluster.
Q How many people per training session?
A 25 people maximum, approximately three schools.
Q How long does the training session last?
A 4 hours maximum.
Q When can the training take place?
A This can be agreed locally. Training can be organised as part of existing CPD dates, as twilight sessions or as morning or afternoon sessions between June 2008 and June 2010. The programme aims to be as flexible as possible to meet the needs of different schools.
Q Should all school staff attend the same workshop?
A It is strongly recommended that school staff and practitioners from the same school community (or cluster) attend the workshops together.
Q Is there any pre-course work required?
A Yes:
School Audit: Schools attending the training are required to complete an audit as part of the Fit for Girls development process. The audit will seek to identify the key issues in the school hindering girls’ participation and establish a baseline against which the school will measure progress. It will enable the school to complete an analysis of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The audit should cover curricular PE and extra curricular physical activity and sport.
The Active Schools Manager is responsible for distributing the audit to the school and sending the completed version back to the Fit for Girls Development Manager one week prior to the start of the workshop to allow the trainer time preparation time. The audit may be complied by a lead member of staff, perhaps the PE department, but should involve all those involved in school based PE, physical activity and sport.
Questionnaire: As part of the Fit for Girls monitoring and evaluation process, S2 girls will be asked to complete a questionnaire in the first year of the programme (2008/09), this will then be repeated with the same group in year 3 (2010/11), when the girls enter S4.
Questionnaires will be delivered directly to the school addressed to the head teacher. An information sheet containing guidelines to help complete the questionnaire, a return slip and stamp addressed envelope will be enclosed with the questionnaires. The questionnaire has been designed by sportscotland and CAHRU (Child and Adolescent Research Unit at Edinburgh University), with input from a variety of stakeholders. It asks for details relating to the outputs of Fit for Girls and will provide invaluable data from a large number of girls in Scotland.
Schools will be asked to return the completed questionnaires within one month of receipt. sportscotland’s commitment is to analyse the data and send a full report back to the school within one month of receiving the completed questionnaires.
Q What should the action plans cover?
A Schools should be guided by the results of the questionnaire and follow good practice by consulting with girls and young women. The action plans should reflect training and targets related to school development plans and local authority annual action and cluster plans. For example:
- Current status of PE, physical activity and sport in the school for girls
- Suggested activities and signposting to other programmes such as Girls on the Move; Y Dance.
- Description of how activities and initiatives will be promoted to encourage girls’ participation.