First Vale School welcomes their ‘5 x 60 officer’ -
06/02/07
Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg - the Vale of Glamorgan’s Welsh
medium comprehensive school - is set to experience a new dimension
in the delivery of physical activity.
Elin Leyshon has been recruited by the Vale of Glamorgan
Council's sports development team to become the school's ‘5 x 60
officer’ as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s £7.6 million
initiative designed to help create opportunities for secondary
school pupils to participate in 60 minutes of physical activity,
five days a week.
Managed by the Sports Council for Wales, the programme has been
introduced to continue the momentum started by the Dragon Sport
scheme - the highly acclaimed lottery funded programme that
facilitates extra-curricular sport and physical activity in primary
schools.
The aim is for every secondary school in the Vale to have their
own '5 x 60 officer' by 2008 to work with teachers, the local
community, parents and pupils to increase participation levels in
fun and safe physical activities.
Oxford University graduate Elin, aged 22 and originally from
Swansea, is a Welsh speaker. She is a successful netball player in
the Welsh senior squad and has previously competed in
athletics.
Karen Davies, Vale sports, arts and play development manager,
said: “The vision nationally is for schools to have 90% of their
pupils happily undertaking an hour of exercise on at least five
days a week by the year 2020.”
Approximately half of Ysgol Bro Morgannwg’s pupils are currently
involved in extra-curricular activities, including netball, hockey,
rugby, football, keep-fit and gymnastics, and Cabinet Member for
Education & Training Cllr Nigel Gibbs said: “It’s important
that pupils get into the habit of exercising and realise that
health is important for their future. Too many children favour
watching TV, are overweight and are generally not participating in
enough activity."
Elin, who aims to increase before and after-school clubs as well
as lunchtime and weekend activities, said: “I’m looking to profile
more non-team sports and it’s important to find ways to encourage
non-participants to join in. Listening to pupils is fundamental to
the success of the 5 x 60 scheme. Aside from the long-term health
improvements physical activity offers an enjoyable social
experience that can help build self-esteem and personal
confidence.”
All 855 Bro Morgannwg pupils will be asked to complete a survey
to identify any barriers preventing them from participating in
sports. Elin will ascertain when they would prefer to join
extra-curricular clubs and offer a choice of new options such as
golf, boxercise, horse riding, hill walking, orienteering and
martial arts.
Elin, who will also liaise with sports and physical activity
clubs, is focused on offering sustainable sessions that rely on
support from parents too – volunteer recruitment is key and Elin
would like to hear from those interested in working with her.
Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism Cllr Gwyn John said: “We
hope to welcome a gradual fleet of 5 x 60 officers over the next
couple of years. Their sports development focus will allow them to
work strategically assisting pupils to lead a constructive healthy
life-style and work as a community to achieve results that lead to
a better way of life.”
Bro Morgannwg headteacher Dr Dylan Jones added: “The '5 x 60'
scheme is an excellent way to extend opportunities already in place
linking with our healthy schools' project. Academic benefits should
be produced too, as healthy bodies and healthy minds are progressed
together.”
To find out more about sports development opportunities in the
Vale of Glamorgan, call 01446 704614, while you can call Elin at
the school on 01446 450280.