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Bringing the Commonwealth Games into the Classroom

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The wait is almost over!

This year, the eyes of the sporting world turn to Scotland as it hosts the Commonwealth Games.

At its heart, the Commonwealth is about more than medals. It represents 56 nations, 2.5 billion people, and a shared commitment to humanity, equality, and destiny.

For children, these can feel like abstract ideas. But through sport, they become real.

We’re not just teaching pupils how to run faster or jump higher, we’re helping them understand resilience, the rewards of hard work, and the celebration of diversity.

Top tips for integrating the Games into lessons
1. Geography & Global Citizenship: The “Passport” Project

The Commonwealth spans every continent, so why not bring the world into your classroom?

Lesson Idea:
Create “Commonwealth Passports.” Assign each class a different nation to research, exploring:

  • Flags
  • Traditional foods
  • Climate
  • Wildlife

Then, during sports day, host a “Parade of Nations” where pupils carry their handmade flags. Suddenly, a PE event becomes a celebration of global culture and respect.

2. Maths: The numbers behind the medals

Sport is packed with real-world data.

Ideas to explore:

  • Which continent is leading?
  • What’s the average medal count for smaller nations?
  • How far is a long jump record, really?
  • How does a child’s sprint speed compare to elite athletes?

Maths becomes active, visual, and meaningful.

3. Literacy: Sports journalism & storytelling

The Games are built on powerful human stories.

Lesson Idea:
Turn pupils into “Junior Reporters.” They can:

  • Write match reports
  • Conduct mock interviews
  • Create athlete profiles

Encourage vivid language and emotional storytelling to capture the energy of competition.

4. Art & Design: Reimagining the Games

Challenge your pupils to:

  • Design an alternative mascot using recycled materials
  • Reflect Scottish identity and values
  • Explain the meaning behind their design

This blends creativity with environmental awareness.

Inspiration is just the spark

Watching athletes on screen is powerful, but meeting one in person can be transformative. When pupils hear real stories of failure, resilience, and success, dreams start to feel achievable.

At Great Athletes, we believe every child deserves access to real role models. We bring elite athletes into schools to:

  • Share their journeys
  • Lead engaging fitness sessions
  • Talk about resilience, mental health, and wellbeing

Turn the excitement of the Games into a lasting legacy for your pupils. Book your visit here.

The Norwegian Secret: Don’t let children win

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If you happened to catch any of the 2026 Winter Olympics from Milan-Cortina recently, you probably noticed a recurring theme: the Norwegian flag. A lot of it. For a tiny nation of just 5.5 million people (about the population of Yorkshire), Norway didn’t just participate; they dominated.

They finished at the top of the medal table with a record-breaking 41 medals, 18 of them gold. To put that in perspective, they outperformed the United States, China, and the entire UK combined.

Our first instinct might be to assume they have some sort of boot camp for toddlers or a hyper-advanced scouting system that identifies “The Next Big Thing” in the reception year. But the truth is actually the exact opposite. Norway’s secret to global sporting dominance is something that might feel revolutionary, and perhaps a little bit scary, to our competitive Western sensibilities:

They don’t let children “win” until they are nearly in secondary school.

The “Joy of Sport” (Idrettsglede)

In Norway, youth sports are governed by a formal document called the Children’s Rights in Sports. It’s not just a set of guidelines; it’s a national philosophy. The core tenet is idrettsglede, the joy of sport for all.

 Here is how their system works for children under the age of 13:

  • No Scores or Standings: Until age 11, no scores are recorded and no league tables are published.

  • No National Championships: There are no national competitions for children until they turn 13.

  • The Right to Participate: Every child has a right to play, regardless of talent, income, or background.

  • Local Focus: Children are encouraged to stay within their local community clubs to foster friendships, rather than being “scouted” and driven two hours away to a regional academy.

Why “Not Competing” Actually Creates Champions

It sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? We’re taught that competition “builds character” and “prepares children for the real world.” But Norway’s results suggest we might be getting the timing all wrong. By removing the pressure to win early, children achieve three things that are gold dust for long-term success:

What can we learn from Norway?

I know what you’re thinking: “That sounds lovely, but I have a Sports Day to organise and parents who will riot if their kid doesn’t get a first-place sticker.”

We don’t need to move to Oslo to adopt this mindset. As primary educators, we are the gatekeepers of a child’s first relationship with physical activity. We can weave the Norwegian “Joy of Sport” into our own schools with a few shifts in perspective:

1. Focus on “Mastery,” Not “Victory”

Instead of praising the child who ran the fastest, we should be highlighting the child who improved their personal best or the one who showed a new skill. In Norway, “Mastery” is one of the four protected rights of a child in sport.

2. Change the Language of PE

When we lead a PE lesson, is the “success criteria” winning the game, or is it “total engagement”?

Try this: Instead of “Who won?”, ask “Who had the most touches of the ball?” or “What was the most creative play you saw today?”

3. The “No-Cut” Policy

Ensure that after-school clubs aren’t just for the “School Team.” If we only offer clubs for the top 10% of athletes, we are essentially telling the other 90% that “sport isn’t for you.” Norway’s model proves that elite success is built on the shoulders of massive, inclusive participation.

4. Educating the Sidelines

The hardest part? The parents. We’ve all seen the parents screaming instructions from the touchline. Sharing the “Norwegian Secret” with parents can be a powerful tool. When they see that one of the most successful sporting nations on Earth bans rankings for kids, it might just give them permission to breathe, sit back, and let their child just… play.

The Big Picture: Health for Life

The most impressive stat from Norway isn’t actually their Olympic medal count. It’s their adult participation rate. Over 70% of Norwegian adults are active in sports or physical activity.

By making sports “fun and non-competitive” in the primary years, they aren’t just building Olympians; they are building a healthy society. They’ve realised that if you make a child feel like a “loser” at age 8, they probably won’t want to go for a run at age 38.

As teachers, you have the power to protect that “Joy of Sport.” You can choose to make your playgrounds places of exploration rather than high-stakes testing grounds.

Norway proves that if you take care of the fun, the fast will take care of themselves.

Ready to inspire your pupils?

If you’d like to bring the spirit of idrettsglede to your hall, why not book an athlete visit? Let’s show your school that sport is for everyone, and that the biggest “win” is simply showing up and having a go.

10 ways to keep children active over Easter

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With most schools set to break up for the Easter Holidays on Friday, here are some of our top tips of how to have a fun break whilst also keeping fit and active.

  1. Plan outdoor activities

Encourage children to participate in outdoor activities such as bike rides, picnics, and playing games like football or frisbee. It’s a great way to keep them active and engaged. Now it’s lighter in the evenings, there’s more time to get outside and enjoy some fresh air.

  1. Make it a family affair

Where possible, try to participate in activities with your children. This not only keeps everyone active but also creates bonding opportunities. Try games like tag, hide-and-seek or hop scotch.

  1. Set a routine

In the holidays, it’s easy for all sense of structure and routine to fly out of the window. Try to establish a routine for the day that includes physical activities. This helps to ensure that children stay active throughout the day.

  1. Be creative

Encourage children to engage in creative activities like dancing, yoga, or indoor games that keep them active and entertained.

  1. Try new things

Experiment with new activities like martial arts, rock climbing, or swimming. This can help keep children interested and engaged. There’s an activity out there for everyone!

  1. Encourage physical chores

Encourage children to help with physical chores like gardening, cleaning, or washing the car. It’s a great way to get them moving and teach them responsibility (and also helps you out!)

  1. Organise an Easter Egg hunt

Organise an Easter egg hunt that requires physical activity. For example, ask children to find eggs hidden in the park or around the house or garden. You could even ask them to run, jump and climb to find the hidden eggs.

  1. Limit screen time

Set limits on screen time and encourage children to spend time outdoors or engaging in physical activities instead.

  1. Set up an obstacle course

Set up an obstacle course in your garden or local park to keep your child active and entertained.

  1. Keep it fun

Above all, keep physical activities fun and engaging. Children are more likely to participate in activities that they enjoy, so make sure to choose activities that are age-appropriate and interesting to them.

Don’t forget that hosting an athlete visit is also a great way to engage your students in new and exciting ways. The children will have the chance to interact with a professional athlete and gain valuable insights into what it takes to succeed at the highest level. To find out when we’re next in your area give us a call on 01223 792200 or visit greatathletes.org

Have a wonderful Easter!

P.S – If you try any of these ideas, we’d love to see them (Twitter: @sports_for_schools Facebook: @greatathletesuk)

 

 

Her Majesty, the Queen – an inspiration to us all

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The nation, indeed the world, has spent the last couple of weeks mourning the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. She was the longest-serving British monarch, reigning for more than 70 years, a feat that is unlikely to be surpassed by any future monarch in either our lifetime or that of the next generation.

Princess Elizabeth became Queen in 1952, far earlier than anyone had anticipated at the time. Taking on the role of head of the monarchy at such a young age would have been daunting for anybody, but the young Queen eased into the job far better than anyone could have expected. Over the intervening years before her sad death on 8th September 2022, she became a leading light, a constant, the voice of reason, compassion and understanding for so many.

 

So, who was Her Majesty the Queen, and how did she inspire people, particularly young children and adults? What did she enjoy most away from her formal duties? What lessons can we, and should we, learn from this greatest of monarchs?

 

Who was Queen Elizabeth II?

 

Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t just monarch of the UK; she was also queen and head of state of 15 Commonwealth countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Fiji. She also held two religious titles – Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Her faith was extremely strong, and she took this role very seriously, probably more so than many of the UK’s former kings and queens.

 

Throughout her reign, she saw many changes across the world; economic, social and technological. Who would have thought that decades into her reign, we would be witnessing royal podcasts? But while she was a figurehead for the country and Commonwealth and met many world leaders, some notable and some not as notable, as well as countless celebrities, she continued to lead and inspire generations of young and old people. She was admired, respected and loved by many globally.

 

An inspiration to many

 

If we consider the definition of inspiration – “being mentally stimulated to do or feel something” – it doesn’t really give us a full picture of how much the Queen inspired people. But if we think about how a person can give us the inspiration to create and achieve something, to give us the confidence and determination to change direction for the better, or the ideas and drive to solve a problem, then we have a better understanding of just how inspirational the Queen was.

 

With just a few words of kindness and an imperious interest in what you were doing or trying to achieve or had achieved, she put you at your ease. She was intelligent, and her extent of knowledge across multiple topics was rarely matched. If we think back to the beginning of the Covid pandemic, her short address inspired the nation to be stoic, steadfast and patient. She united people in a common battle for the good, just as she had during World War II.

 

It was quite usual for people to lack confidence and be in awe of the Queen before meeting her, but with an encouraging smile and words, she put you at ease. Her love of horses and horse racing knew no bounds – you can count on one hand the number of times she missed the Derby or Royal Ascot in her seven decades of reign. But that wasn’t the only sport and sporting people she inspired.

 

Becoming Head of the Commonwealth in 1952, her unwavering support of the Commonwealth Games was inspiring. Many athletes from many countries will remember how she took an immense interest in every sport and supported not just the successful athletes but those coming up through the ranks.

 

Who can forget her words as she hailed the Lionesses’ historic Euro 2022 victory as “an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations”. Indeed, generations of fans, young and old, boys and girls, were inspired by their win, which, when supported and championed by the Queen, added more depth and power to their achievement. So many young people and children not only felt more confident to play a game they loved but empowered, too.

 

Initiatives, like the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Activity Fund, are specifically set up to bring communities together through sport and activity and boost opportunities for everyone at every level in sport. She was patron of the Jockey Club, the FIA, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, Rugby Union, the All England Club and the British Olympic Association. In fact, she was patron of more than 400 organisations, many of which were sports and recreational-based. She regularly maintained contact and visited them to follow and support the organisations, inspiring the younger generation to work hard and follow in the footsteps of their heroes.

 

Lessons to be learned from the Queen

 

For children and young adults, indeed for many people, there are so many lessons to be learned from the Queen; duty, loyalty, commitment, leadership, dedication, honesty, calm, support, friendliness, kindness and more. She supported over 600 charities, and she was renowned for the way she cared about children, the elderly and home-grown causes.

 

She showed immense strength and resilience through good and hard times, and she was always a good listener. As much as duty was important, her family was also as important. She wasn’t just a monarch; she was also a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, hosting annual weekends and holidays in Balmoral and Sandringham that were filled with laughter.

 

Her love and devotion to her family, her subjects of all ages, young and old, her nation, the Commonwealth and her duty to serve were and will be unmatched. As we mourn her passing, our thoughts are with those she’s left behind in their sorrow.

 

Great Athletes is a social enterprise that works with top athletes from around the UK and Northern Ireland, visiting primary schools to inspire and encourage kids of all abilities, and teachers, to be more active. Our mission is to Activate, Educate, Motivate and Innovate schools and parents through a series of events and workshops.  If you’d like your school or parents to get active, get in touch with us and see how we could help you inspire our next generation.

 

WIN 40 amazing sporting prizes!

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Great Athletes are thrilled to have been selected as one of six charities being supported by the Sporting Chance Prize Draw. It’s a fantastic competition with 40 amazing sporting prizes that YOU could be in with a chance of winning. It’s just £10 to enter and the winners will be announced on the 31st March.

Prizes include:

Two places for a day with Team GB at the Olympics (Tokyo 2021 or Paris 2024)

A basketball masterclass with Olympian Peter Bakare

A gymnastics masterclass with Olympian Kristian Thomas

A swimming masterclass with Olympians Amy Smith & Joe Roebuck

A sprinting masterclass with International Sprinter Frederick Afrifa

Two places for a Ski Weekend in Salzburg

And many, many more!

Thanks to the generosity of the Sporting Chance Prize Draw team, 100% of the funds donated will go straight to the six participating charities, including Great Athletes. We intend to use the money to help to support our mission to visit as many schools as possible to inspire children to be more physically active.

Enter the draw here.

Thank you! You’ve been amazing.

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2020 has been a testing year for many of us, and no one’s hardships outweigh anyone else’s. However, through the home workouts, takeaways, DIY, and baked goods, there has been a driving force keeping the nation going.

We’re not talking about NHS workers – though they have been incredible and deserve every applaud they got those months ago – but we’re talking about the teachers, schools, and support staff who have endured the changes we’ve all had to face in an environment making it difficult to do so.

You’ve had to bubble up with your classes.

You’ve had to cover staff sicknesses.

You’ve had to teach both those physically in front of you and those who couldn’t be.

You’ve had to take on the pressures of social distancing in a class full of children who are still learning and struggling to understand why it’s so important.

You’ve had to risk your own health to ensure our kids still have a future.

You are so much more than childcare. You are so much more than teachers, support staff, administration – you are the unsung heroes of 2020. Through your drive and commitment to continue providing an education for children across the nation, you have helped shaped their futures.

We want to say THANK YOU to all schools out there. To all teachers, support staff, and school administration – you absolutely deserve some credit. Although things may be tough right now, we want you to know how fantastic of a job you are doing. You’ve been great!

As our way of saying thank you, we want to offer you a FREE target throw pack (worth £250) when you book an athlete event with us before Christmas. ALL new Spring term bookings will receive this pack once their event has taken place as our way of saying thanks to you. You deserve it.

From all of us here at Great Athletes, keep doing what you are doing. You’re doing great!

 

 

5 ways that athletes change children’s lives for the better

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For many children, their most important role models are their parents and caregivers. However, children look up to a variety of role models to help shape how they behave.

Having a role model helps children to become the person they want to be and inspires them to make a difference. Choosing wisely means that they will be positively influenced and encouraged to be the best person possible not only through their childhood but also into their adult life.

  1. Athletes are fantastic role models

Athletes are able to show the children the power of hard work, perseverance and resilience in a very unique and influential way. Throughout an athletes career, they experience tremendous highs and heart-breaking lows and sharing these encounters with the children helps them to see that failure is inevitable but having the grit and determination to bounce back is what counts.

  1. Physical activity builds the brain

Physical activity is incredibly important to the development, self-esteem and health of primary school children. Unfortunately, 90% of children across the country aren’t getting enough exercise every week. As well as leading to an increase in childhood obesity, a lack of exercise makes it harder for kids to concentrate and can cause pupils to become less confident.

By inviting an athlete into school, the children will see first-hand just how fun and enjoyable physical activity really is. And teachers will find concentration & behaviour has improved as they return to their classrooms!

  1. Athletes are inspirational even for “non-sporty” children

It’s easy to imagine that athletes will only help to inspire and motivate the children that are already physically active and interested in sport. It’s incredible how the athlete can connect with ALL of the children. By the end of the fitness circuit every child will be smiling and trying their best, whether they are naturally sporty or not. The circuits are all about simply trying your best.

The messages that the athletes give to the children are also brilliant to any subject at school, any activity or any life decision. Here are just 3 athlete mottos:

  • “Be the best version of you” – Darren Harris, Paralympic Blind Footballer
  • “Dream big!” – Kristian Thomas, Olympic Gymnast
  • “Say yes and deliver.” – Peter Bakare, Olympic Volleyball Player
  1. Raise funds for your school

Not only does inviting an athlete into school truly inspire the children, it can also help to raise money to improve physical activity at school and create a lasting legacy. Once the children have been inspired by the athlete, they are often enthused to try new activities. Having some new sports equipment can be a great way to promote different activities at school and maintain the momentum. Great Athletes have raised over £4.5 million pounds for PE equipment to date, and last year, 70% of schools were left with an anything from £300 to £5,000 to spend!

  1. Create a memory to last a lifetime

It’s amazing how the children will forever remember the day that an athlete came to visit school. Even now when we speak to teachers, they remember the day that Kriss Akabusi or another household athlete name came to their school and inspired them. Many of the messages that the athletes give are similar to those that are taught in schools everyday but the power of an athlete delivering it is exceptionally powerful.

“An experience the children will remember for years to come, very inspiring!

Frederick and his assistant were brilliant with the children. They loved the exercises it was so good seeing them enjoying the physical activity. Even those children who often find this difficult were participating and enjoying it. The assembly was also extremely inspiring for the children as Frederick was very clear and passionate about moving forward and continue to put effort in even when it feels as though the tide is against you. Very impressed!”

If you want to get the kids at your school inspired and find them an incredible role model to look up to, take a look round our site today or get in touch with a member of our team on 01223 792200.

 

6 ways in which Athletes can inspire your school as we exit lockdown

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Returning to school is vital for children’s education and for their wellbeing, while the risk to children themselves of becoming severely ill from COVID-19 is very low.

In numbers, 2 deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded across England and Wales out of 10.7 million under 15s, so that’s a chance of 1 in 5.3 million; that means COVID-19 is 7 times less risky for children than the 2017-18 seasonal flu.

In the meantime, there are so many negative health impacts of being out of school. So, for the vast majority of children, the benefits of being back in school far outweigh the very low risk from COVID-19.

Whilst children seem to be largely immune from the virus, they are not immune from the broader impacts on our society and economy. It is even more important now to lift and inspire children to achieve their potential and be the best they can be.

  1. Athletes are fantastic role models

Athletes are able to show the children the power of hard work, perseverance, grit and resilience in a very unique and influential way. Great Athletes athletes are all of very high calibre: They’ve all represented their country at one of the major games (Olympics/Paralympics, World Champs, European Champs, Commonwealth Games or Invictus Games).

The whole school will take part in a fun fitness circuit led by the athlete and a sportivater (this can easily be done in bubbles with no equipment required).

The athlete will then deliver motivational talks in mini assemblies (or classroom visits if preferred). They don’t just talk about competing; they explain the challenges they have faced, and deliver highly motivating messages about trying your best, working hard, and leading a healthy life.

  1. Events can take place outside

Children LOVE being outside and there are many health benefits from being outside. The risk of transmission is also considerably lower outdoors and lack of space is much less of an issue.

I know what you’re thinking…what about the weather?! But how many times does it actually rain or snow so much that you can’t be outside? Think back to the past 4 weeks of going to work – how often did you actually get wet? I imagine the answer is less than you first thought.

  1. No equipment is necessary

The beauty of the fitness circuit, is that absolutely no equipment is needed which can help considerably with cleaning procedures. The Athlete and sportivater will simply use some tape (that they will bring!) to separate the exercise stations.

  1. Online sponsorship

Since lockdown, we’ve all discovered there’s a digital solution for just about everything these days; running fundraising events is no exception. More digital means less social contact, so encourage the parents to set up an online fundraising page where they can easily share the page with friends and family and learn more about the visiting athlete.

  1. Self-certification

Government guidance will be followed throughout to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Athletes and sportivaters will also provide self-certification on arrival (along with their DBS and ID as always) and will practice good hygiene with regular hand sanitation to reduce any risk.

  1. Virtual events

If you’re still not sure, then how about an ONLINE event?  The great news is that the whole school can take part (wherever they are, whether in school or at home!). All you need is a mobile device or computer.

The athlete will deliver a fun fitness circuit, give a brief inspirational talk, and host Q&A all ONLINE. The event is carefully moderated, and as always with children, we’ve found the Q&A to be the best!

 

Here’s some recent feedback from a school who hosted a virtual event during lockdown:

“With everything going on at the moment and the anxiety the children are feeling, this was such a great thing for the children to experience, there was a real buzz after the event. 

Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to do another event like that again. It was engaging, educational, interesting and for the pupils to have Olympians training them will truly inspire them.” (Pentland Primary School)

If you want to get the kids at your school inspired and motivated to be more active, take a look round our site today or get in touch with a member of our team on 01223 792200.

 

CEO Insights: Part 1 – Education & schools – a system in need of radical change

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The covid-19 pandemic has exposed the way in which incrementalism and focus on exam results has driven out initiative and leadership from the system. We all know that it’s only when things get tough & when there are surprises that anyone or anything is really tested, and weaknesses identified.

All systems are good and bad
The human instinct, when thinking about planning for the future is to look back to last year, and then extrapolate a plan. This is the essence of incrementalism. Though it has a place, it’s inherently a system that sets in stone some essential elements of itself, which is a recipe for eventual self-destruction. It’s now brought us to an ever-increasing tightening of the Ofsted noose around schools, not because Ofsted are not doing their job (they are implementing the law), but because each little step has seemed sensible at the time. Max Weber, the first sociologist to study bureaucracy, saw it both positively as an efficient means of organising society, but also as a force that destroys individual freedom (both behaviour and thought).

By squeezing out individual thought, diversity and innovation are stifled. Free thinking ideas never see the light of day, as the pressure to standardise reduces the very diversity on which progress is based. The system no longer has the capacity to adapt to technology & societal changes. Failure is no longer tolerated, and we end up with one monstrous top down system disconnected from the reality experienced by those very people the system is expected to serve.

Share paintbrushes but not pencils
This is the process that has led us to a situation in which central government in the form of the Department for Education (DfE) felt the need to produce a 156 page document to explain to schools how they should go about re-opening in September 2020. It is surely not the role of the DfE to tell a head teacher that pencils may not be shared between pupils, but paintbrushes may indeed be shared, in order to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus. This is the moment we need to step back and realise that our system needs change. The bureaucracy is self-destructing, and children are the victims, today and for the rest of their lives.

LEAs had their weaknesses and were clearly in need of change. MATs have been suggested as a solution, but once again this is an example of tinkering – moving the administration around does not change the actual product or service that is delivered (whether by a school, a company or an individual). The bureaucratic noose is the idea that a single national curriculum policed by a single body is a good idea. It’s not. We know that monopolies are bad, we know that the great 20th century experiment with communism failed. So too any single approach is bound to fail eventually. People change, the needs change, society changes, technology advances, but the bureaucracy just keeps on squeezing and tinkering incrementally.

Our system has driven out independent leadership by making schools subservient to central government diktat, which has focused on metrics that measure a narrow range of exam skills. Those metrics serve the politicians, but not the people for whom they are designed. So we now have learning objectives, rather than education. Schools are driven to a dependency culture, and headteachers are no longer measured by their ability to educate children, but by ensuring that the system is satisfied with exam results (and the implementation of audit trails that confirm adherence to risk reduction and other safety measures). Failure will not be tolerated!
To be clear, this is not a question of the people in the system – the teachers, the education professionals, those working to prepare our children for life. The education profession is staffed by highly committed people who are invariably motivated and dedicated to doing a great job – but they are constrained by the system. They are stuck in their little paddling boat on a creek when they need to get out onto the high sea to get the freedom they need.

Those who have seen how independent schools switched seamlessly to teaching online as lockdown bolted us indoors will know what independence can do. Within 2 weeks they had learnt how to deliver the full curriculum online and spent the Easter holidays making adaptations from their learnings (note I didn’t say failures). They then delivered a full term of education to their pupils and students. Everything from art, to maths to PE and sports.

PE and Sports during lockdown?
Yes, as we know from Joe Wicks and others, keeping physically active is entirely possible in lockdown. When I asked a teachers and heads about continuing to deliver their curriculum online, the best response I had was, “I’d not thought we could do that, we’ve not had any guidance”, and the worst was, “but some of my students don’t have computers or internet access”.
Those same educators also told me proudly that the school had a large number (I forget exactly the number) of computers in school – presumably not being used. Could these, maybe, just maybe, have been sent home with those children who did not have access to a computer, with a USB SIM card to give them internet access? Central government guidelines were not produced for that particular idea, so those stuck in the system would naturally prefer to avoid taking any unnecessary risks.

So what’s the answer?
In my next blog I’ll examine ideas for how the system could be changed. Ideas are cheap; the work in identifying things that actually work in practice. Questions we might ask are,

• “Why do we need a national curriculum when exams are the test?” Surely it’s the (expert) teacher who is best able figure out the curriculum for their particular pupils and local culture & needs so that pupils are ready for the test.

• “Why do we need GCSEs? When O-levels were invented, 93% of students left school at 16. Now 93% stay on in education. So what’s the point?”

• “How are exam results compatible with creating a “growth mindset”? The very essence of a growth mindset is focus on effort and the process, not the outcome. Yet we measure outcome.

• “What are the alternatives to a Victorian classroom setting that will facilitate and speed up education and learning?”. We know physical activity is essential to building a well balanced brain, yet 80% of children don’t do the minimum to stave off inactivity related diseases.

• “How might we allow real diversity in schools and between schools?”. This means accepting different metrics for success. We know that setting minimum standards has a tendency to reduce overall standards, so what’s the alternative?

The answers are available. Let’s explore them, and redesign the system before it breaks us.

How to…keep busy whilst you’re in lockdown!

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We are all in this together and, as we’ve all been told to stay at home, this is an excellent opportunity to learn some new skills to keep busy.

For many of us, uncertainty is lingering. We don’t know how long this will last. Time spent in isolation could lead to mental health problems, which is why it is so important to try your best to keep busy. Many of us have been given an opportunity to rest, so what is the best use of our time?

There are a number of things you could try, but whether it’s occupying just yourself or your loved ones too, here are a few ideas:

  1. Learn a new skill! Whether it be sign language, Makaton, French, German, crafting, or anything you can think of – we have an opportunity to invest our time into something you might have always wanted to do!
  2. Redecorate – have you been putting something off because you didn’t have the time? Painting the bedroom? Moving the furniture around? Cleaning the garage? Well, here’s your chance. Redecorating could give you a sense of achievement – it’s always nice to have a fresh start!
  3. Exercise – don’t let your old fitness DVD gather dust anymore! You have 24 hours in a day, let’s find some time to exercise! There are plenty of workouts you can find online, including Joe Wick’s daily 9am workout on his channel! Remember, you are allowed to go outside for one form of exercise a day, so you could even take up jogging or cycling.
  4. Cook from scratch – no more need for convenience meals. We have the time to create beautiful meals from scratch! Have you ever made your own bread? Your own pizza dough? Your own pasta? (Come to think of it, there is a shortage of pasta so this one might be worth a go…) Let’s get cooking!

Count your blessings. These are tough times for many of us, but remember to be kind to each other and spend time with your loved ones (if they’re in your household, of course!) If you’re fit and healthy you might like to consider volunteering for the NHS in these testing times – but keep safe and stay sane!