Earlier this year, Woodlands Additional Support Needs (ASN) school in Edinburgh took part in the Fit for Girls programme.
Fit for Girls is a national programme developed in partnership between sportscotland and the Youth Sport Trust. The key principles of the programme are valuing girls’ voices, promoting peer role models, co-creating projects, and celebrating ‘Unstoppable Girls’ through sport and physical activity.
Tutors Grace, Neva, Abby, Roisin, Emma and Laura led two inspiring, interactive Fit for Girls workshops at Woodlands - the first ASN school to be involved in the programme.
Since 2008, Fit for Girls has continued to develop and meet the needs of girls, along with the sport and physical activity workforce in Scotland.
Ensuring inclusivity and foundations for success
When delivering workshops at Woodlands, the tutors’ innovative approach was designed to meet the unique needs and abilities of the girls, focusing on empowering them to engage in physical education, physical activity and sport.
Fit for Girls tutor Grace played a pivotal role in ensuring inclusivity by developing new activities based on feedback from ASN PE teacher, Irek Kaldowski. This collaboration resulted in the creation of an inclusive matrix, encouraging engagement and participation among the girls.
Irek said: “The reason I was so interested in Fit for Girls was to see how the girls would react and to see if this would help me get them more interested in PE. The Active Schools mentors and tutors did an amazing job to adapt the programme and themes. You could see positive changes after and I’m sure this programme will do well in other ASN schools.”
He added: “Within our school PE is all about getting pupils interested in moving, being active and having fun through learning and skills. I could see girls coming out of their shell and being creative when completing the Fit for Girls tasks, like designing their own PE kit and creative games.”
Grace said: “For one of our activities, the girls wrote down a personal quality on an individual balloon. The girls then passed the balloon to a person that represented or showed the quality written on the balloon. This was such a heartwarming session as all the girls were able to understand and connect with each other and the smiles they had on their face when they received a balloon was so lovely.”
Another adaptation of the Fit for Girls workshop was a team challenge which aimed to build leadership skills and get the girls communicating with each other. This was something completely new and wrapped the two workshops up perfectly with all the skills the girls had developed.
Enhanced engagement and meaningful collaboration
The workshops were delivered in small groups with the four tutors split across groups. The girls experienced personalised interactions, enabling even the quieter participants to express themselves and input into discussions around PE, sport and physical activity.
Collaboration between the Fit for Girls Tutor Team, Irek, and young leaders from Currie High School meant that a comprehensive approach could be taken to address the girls' needs and the potential for continued collaboration was established.
Irek said: “Following Fit for Girls two young leaders from Currie High School held four weeks of Monday lunch club for the girls, where they could play their own games. No boys, no teachers, which was absolutely brilliant. They had a lot of fun, and it has created a great connection between the schools.”
Creating a lasting impact
The workshop at Woodlands ASN School stands as a testament to the power of taking an inclusive approach to co-design and delivery to learning new skills and getting involved in sport.
Irek said: “Before Fit for Girls some pupils would withdraw from PE, and it was difficult to motivate them. I think Fit for Girls has brought the girls together. They stay together and take part together which I would say is a little legacy of the programme.”
Feedback from visual aids demonstrated the impact of the workshops on all participants and the success of the workshop design emphasises the importance of genuine engagement and purpose-driven interactive workshops.
Through collaborative partnerships and unwavering dedication, Grace, Neva, Abbie, Roisin, Emma and Laura have enriched the lives of the girls involved in the programme and have set a precedent for future Fit for Girls workshops.
As the tutors continue their journey, the impact of their work will continue beyond the two workshops, inspiring positive change and empowerment.
Partners, Scottish Governing Bodies and local authorities are welcomed to register interest in the Fit for Girls programme.
Grace said: “Being at Fit for Girls tutor has been one of the best opportunities I’ve had in sport. It has been so rewarding and I’ve had so many opportunities to develop myself too. I’ve also got to meet so many amazing people throughout my journey as a Fit for Girls tutor.”
