Teacher CPD success
- Wigan Warriors Community Foundation hosted a teacher CPD session at Robin Park Arena last week.
- Teachers from across Wigan, Chorley and Clitheroe attend to gain skills in delivering Rugby League sessions.
- Session focused on developing girls Rugby League in schools with eight-week development plan provided by Foundation coaches.
Wigan Warriors became the first Rugby League Community Foundation to deliver a teacher continuing professional development (CPD) session last week.
Fifteen teachers from a variety of high schools across Wigan, Chorley and Clitheroe attended at Robin Park Arena, with Warriors Foundation coaches and RFL staff delivering the session.
Participants had the opportunity to gain the skills required to deliver Rugby League sessions in lessons, extra-curricular and develop girls Rugby League in their schools.
The teachers also had the chance to put the core skills of rugby into practice by delivering games in small groups to each other.
Each participant received an eight-week development plan of rugby to take back to their school.
Community coach, Rachel Thompson, said: “The CPD day was a huge success and we had a lot of interest. Having delivered in high schools throughout Wigan – focusing particularly on girls Rugby League – I have noticed that there is an intake to up skill teachers around delivering the basics of the sport.”
Thompson, who is Wigan Women’s captain, added: “One of my main aims this year is ensure every school has a Year 7, 8 and 9 girls rugby team that train every week after school starting in September.
“As I can’t be in all schools all the time, our aim as a Foundation is to upskill teachers to continue this delivery. The number of participants we got last Tuesday was great to see – especially the number of female members of staff.
“We will be looking at running further sessions like these and hopefully include more teachers both male and female in both high and primary schools.”
Andrea Murray, RFL secondary schools manager, said: “We have been successfully delivering the teacher CPD course to trainee PE teachers at Universities across England for two years, but it has been difficult to engage with qualified teachers already working in schools.
“When the Wigan Warriors Community Foundation offered to promote and host the course at Robin Park Arena, it opened the door to a new cohort of PE staff, and it has been great to collaborate with the team to provide a CPD opportunity for teachers in Wigan.
“We have a particular focus on increasing girls’ activity in the borough and seeing so many female staff attending this session has been really encouraging! Giving PE teachers the skills and confidence to deliver Rugby League in their lessons will support the ongoing growth in schools.
“Our thanks go to the education team at the Foundation for recognising the benefit of the course, supporting our ambitions to make Rugby League accessible to more staff and pupils, and delivering an excellent session.”
