Over the last few years we have worked hard to develop our environment for learning and this has included creating a state of the art ‘Body Mind Soul’ Multigym containing high-end professional gym equipment of the type and quality seen in professional gyms. It was great therefore to see Mr Symeou’s Year 8 class making the most of it on Tuesday morning of this week in his lesson on cardiovascular and muscle endurance exercise.

Student engagement was very high. Students were working independently and also linking their learning to strong cross curricular themes across PE and health and science and really grappling with the learning behind the fitness activities underpinning the lesson. Assessment for learning throughout the lesson and excellent use of our powerful orange verbal feedback posters helped to provide students with feedback that supported strong progress as they aim to become fitter and then prove this in a repeat of the 12 minute run they participated in at the start of the year.

Their achievement towards meeting the exercise goals was measured in ‘medals’ gained throughout the lesson – a total of 33 bronze, silver and gold medals; a total way above the target set by Mr Symeou!