What’s happened?
Working in partnership with local schools and Sport Tayside and Fife , Active Schools Fife set up extra curricular gymnastics classes. Such classes are an ideal setting for encouraging children to take part in the recommended sixty minutes of physical activity.
The classes were set up due to a perceived need expressed by school pupils within the East Neuk and Levenmouth areas. They are run by instructors employed by Active Schools Fife who are qualified under the British Gymnastics coach education programme.
Each class is open for both boys and girls. The age grouping was left to each school’s discretion, with the majority opting for primary one to three or three to five. All pupils pay for their class on a termly basis. The classes are either run during lunch hour or straight after school.
During each block pupils have worked towards the Scottish Schools Gymnastics programme of events. This has involved learning skills from SGs proficiency award scheme, a floor and vault competition and a group routine for Gymfest.
With such enthusiasm shown for the sport, by the pupils attending extra curricular classes, a local festival was organised. This was arranged so pupils and parents could see what other girls and boys have been learning as well as a focus for encouraging more children to be more active more often.
Looking forward to next year?
Due to the demand for gymnastics extra curricular classes this partnership will be continued. More instructors will be employed so other schools out with the East Neuk and Levenmouth area can run a similar programme.
Working with Sport Tayside and Fife and Scottish Gymnastics both a coach education programme and CPD programme is currently being looked at so members of staff and instructors can run such classes in nominated schools.
Working with Scottish Schools Gymnastics Technical Panel Active Schools Fife will work towards promoting the Schools Gymnastics programme of events.
The localised festival will feature again. This, however, may have to be held in more than one location due to the geography of Fife and the amount of pupils participating in the event.