Teacher trainees on the ball with PE lessons after FA session

Teacher trainees from Nottingham Trent University recently took part in a session with the Football Association (FA) to support increased fitness levels and combat obesity in primary age children.

Students in sports hall taking part in FA session

Students learnt how to run a primary football session

Taking part in this course has given the next generation of teachers the skills and confidence to go into primary schools and run enjoyable sessions.

Nick Mills, senior lecturer in PE

Teacher trainees from Nottingham Trent University recently took part in a session with the Football Association (FA) to support increased fitness levels and combat obesity in primary age children.

Four FA coaches worked with 50 final year trainees at the one day course, which resulted in each of the students gaining an FA Primary Teachers Award.

The Award is designed to provide a basic introduction to the skills required when planning to deliver a KS1 or KS2 Physical Education (PE) lesson involving the beautiful game. It also includes elements associated with working with a school team.

Nick Mills, senior lecturer in PE at the university’s School of Education, said: “The profile of PE in primary schools has recently been raised, partly driven by the Olympic legacy but more recently by concerns about activity levels in children and associated health issues.

"However, historically teachers find it difficult to run high quality PE lessons, often due to limited subject knowledge and quite negative attitudes towards physical activity.

"Taking part in this course has given the next generation of teachers the skills and confidence to go into primary schools and run enjoyable sessions with the children, aiming to foster a love of physical activity from an early age."

The School of Education has increased the number of hours of teaching dedicated to PE and has been working with a range of external partners on training opportunities, such as English Athletics and the Rugby Football Union.

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Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University’s five-year strategic plan “Creating the University of the Future” has five main ambitions: Creating Opportunity, Valuing Ideas, Enriching Society, Connecting Globally and Empowering People.
The Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education was awarded to Nottingham Trent University in November 2015. It is the highest national honour for a UK university and recognises the institution’s world-class research. Pioneering projects to improve weapons and explosives detection in luggage, enable safer production of powdered infant formula, and combat food fraud, led to the prestigious award.