PULSE Case Study: The Beacon School


Kent Sport visited The Beacon School in Folkestone and Hythe on Wednesday 13 March 2019 to find out about the sport and physical activity that takes place within the school.


The school are one of only eight schools, and the only special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school, to have obtained the Platinum School Games Kitemark across Kent and Medway. The school also recently underwent an Ofsted inspection in February 2019 and received ‘Outstanding’ ratings across all the criteria. This report also stated that the school’s ‘use of extra funding for sport is a strength’ and that ‘staff are well trained (in sport)’. This indicates the value sport and physical activity has within the school, and this therefore leads to greater opportunities and positive impacts for all their staff and pupils.


The Beacon School work closely with Shepway Sports Trust, who offer support in PE lessons and extra-curricular clubs. Continuous professional development (CPD) training is provided by them to


members of staff, and PE lessons are attended a few times each term to observe and advise the teachers running the sessions. Members of staff completed a survey created by the school to better understand the impact of the training. The result showed that 74% of staff agreed, or strongly agreed, that the support received had ‘helped improve their effectiveness as a PE and/or Sport Practitioner’. This figure shows that the CPD training being provided is worthwhile and will increase the levels of sustainability for the future.


Shepway Sports Trust also help by setting up, or inviting them, to events and competitions with other local SEND schools to give pupils a chance to take part in sports and activities with other pupils. The Beacon School recently came first place in both the Aquasplash and boccia events at the Winter Kent School Games Finals. Other events they have been involved in include the Physical Disability Festival and the Active Health Conference. The school also looks to provide exit routes in sport to all their pupils where possible, using local community sports clubs in order to extend their levels of activity. These clubs include, but are not limited to,


Folkestone Saints Basketball, M&M Football Academy, Hythe Lawn Tennis Club, Folkestone Optimist Hockey Club and Folkestone Amateur Boxing Club.


There are a wide range of equipment and facilities around the school which have been bought using the PE and sport premium funding. One area which is quite unique is the multi- sensory zone, which is made up of equipment that pupils can use to do exercises. Mr Walker, The Head of PE at The Beacon, stated that this was created because “Some of our pupils have additional needs which must be catered for, and sensory learning is a great way of fulfilling the wider needs of these pupils before they can access learning”. This demonstrates the consideration the school have put into supporting their pupils to learn and help them to develop from an early age.


The school also has a gym consisting of rowing machines, cross trainers and exercise bikes, as well as some soft play areas located around the school which can be used to be active, for


12 The Kent & Medway School Sports Magazine


learning and as a reward for pupils who are doing well. Leading on from this, all pupils are encouraged to play and learn outside in the playground and forest school during set times during the day. This helps with their own personal development and social interaction with one another. There are bikes and scooters outside which were bought using PE and sport premium funding, and members of staff are Balanceability trained in order to support their pupils with using them.


The Beacon School are looking to trial The Daily Mile with older pupils who are able to take part, as this is understood to have a positive impact on children and young people. Key stage 2 pupils also take part in 30 minutes of swimming per week at Folkestone Sea Sports Centre, and the school wish to use the facility to offer further water sports to all of the pupils that they can. The school have always put a large focus on increasing the levels of sport and physical activity within the school and will look to constantly improve their sports provision where possible.


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