Footballer and Acrobat Sporting New Careers in Education

17th August 2015

A performance artist and a former professional footballer have used their sporting skills to become part of a new generation of teachers who can teach as specialist PE teachers in primary schools.

Former Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers midfielder Jamie Price, and trained performance artist Hannah Baird are among 66 students signed up to a landmark postgraduate teaching qualification at Sheffield Hallam University which allows them to specialise in physical education in primary schools. They will take part in a summer school on Monday 17 August with a keynote lecture from Baroness Sue Campbell, chairman of UK Sport and chair of the Youth Sport Trust. Course leader Sarah Williams said: "This summer school will bring together the students who enrolled in February and the new intake starting this September. "What is clear is that there's a huge appetite for developing high quality PE in primary schools which supports a wider wellness agenda "Now we need more schools to join us in our vision to deliver healthier curriculums by offering placements for these talented new teachers." Jamie, who is also the assistant manager for Bradford Park Avenue football club, said: "'For us to be taught how to produce specialist PE teaching for children that will hopefully excite, intrigue and instil positive habits towards exercise, eating healthily and participating in sport is such an exciting opportunity. "Early positive experiences in PE are vital for longevity of participation and specialist courses like this one are the foundation of the long term target. Children will grow up with a better understanding of the benefits that sport brings physically, psychologically and socially." Sheffield Hallam was the first University in Yorkshire and the Humber to offer a PGCE Primary PE Specialist with qualified teacher status (QTS) - with 60 places available on course starting in February and again in September this year. It came after the government pledged funding of £150m to improve PE lessons for Key Stage one and two pupils, with schools getting £9,000 each to develop better quality PE provision. The new course has been commissioned directly by the National College for Teaching and Leadership. Research has shown that since funding increased, more than 90 per cent of schools reported improvements in children's health, behaviour and lifestyle. Sheffield Hallam joins the University of Chester - working with Ashton on Mersey School and St Mary and St Paul's Teaching Schools - to educate teachers and people with sports or physical education degrees to specialise as primary PE teachers. Sarah added: "This programme is designed to develop specialist primary PE teachers with skills to support colleagues to develop their practice and impact on wider school agendas. This will make a significant contribution to the education of children and skills of teachers now and in the future." As well as dedicated PE tuition, students gain an up-to-date knowledge of core Key Stage 1 and 2 subjects including English, science and mathematics, gaining qualified teacher status (QTS) with a primary PE specialism. To find out more about the course, go to http://www.shu.ac.uk/prospectus/course/1340