THEY could be the budding PE teachers of the future. A dozen Year 5 children from Okehampton Primary School were last week presented with their young sports leaders certificates. As part of the school?s PE and PHSE curriculum, children who enjoy sport have been given the opportunity to share their skills with younger pupils and to hold a position of responsibility. The young sports leaders encourage games and activities in zoned areas of the playground, including a ?craze of the week?. Teacher Liz Goodfellow and Natalie Wood of the school council, whittled down 25 eager applicants to just 12, following interviews. The selected children received leadership training from area school sports co-ordinator Bernie Hachipuka on Thursday after which they were presented with their sports leader certificates. Liz Goodfellow said that at lunchtimes, the leaders would work with groups of younger children in zoned areas of the playground. Liz said she had been ?pleased with the enthusiasm? so many youngsters had shown for the scheme. ?I was very pleased with the amount of thought and effort which had gone into all of the applications and interviews. They took it very seriously.? She said the scheme had been designed to be self-sustaining. Next year, the present batch of leaders will pass on their training to pupils in the year below. Liz said the ?craze of the week? would change regularly and aimed to get children enthused about particular activities: ?It could be skipping; some of our children are already at national standard for skipping, dance and aerobics, for which I have recently set up a breakfast club, or it could be more traditional team sports like football, netball and hockey.? Rotas have been set up to ensure every child is given the chance to join in with the sports and games, rather than just acting as organiser or referee.
