Northfleet school offers 'virtual PE' to sport-shy students
by Simon Tulett
Pupils at a school in Kent have been handed computer games
instead of hockey sticks during PE lessons.
Instead of clashing with an opposing centre-forward, some
students at Northfleet Technology College are battling a
television screen linked up to a Nintendo Wii games console, thus
avoiding having to play any actual sport.
Staff at the Colyer Road secondary school say the equipment,
which allows youngsters to interact with the screen using wireless
controllers, is encouraging sport-shy children back to
exercise.
About 30 children aged from 11 to 14 are opting for the classes
for two hours each week, with games ranging from the Wii Sports
package of tennis, bowling and baseball to Wii Fit, a mix of
balance, yoga and cardiovascular exercises.
Aaron Brown, the school’s progress manager, said: “It’s for
students disaffected from lessons. Generally the guys are slightly
overweight and not particularly good at PE. The whole idea is to
get them invigorated and enjoying PE again.”
Students who opt for the six-week block away from regular PE
classes are split into groups of 16 using four Wii consoles, which
can cost up to £200 each. Youngsters take it in turns to use the
controls, which include remote handsets and a Wii board, while
others follow their movements.
Mr Brown said the school is also planning to introduce titles
like Mario and Sonic’s Olympics and Wii Sports Resort to
lessons.
The approach has been slammed by the Campaign for Real
Education. Its chairman, Nick Seaton, said: “This smacks of poor
discipline. The teachers should ensure that their pupils are using
their abilities. There’s nothing better than competitive sports for
stretching achievement.”
But Mr Brown said many of the children in Wii classes failed to
bring their kit to regular PE lessons to avoid them.
“They weren’t interested in enjoying PE,” he said. “If they are
not involved in it at least they are getting active. For some
students school could be the last time they do anything
active.”
The Government has spoken in support of the approach. A
spokesman from the Department for Children, Schools and Families
said: “There is a place for innovative approaches and providing a
broad range of activities as a means to an end - rather than
writing off children who are turned off by traditional sport.”
Wednesday, November 04 2009
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