EVALUATION REPORT

SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERS IN HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE

3- 4 November 2005

1. INTRODUCTION

The Secondary School Leaders in Health and Physical Education Conference was held at Ascot Quays Apartment Hotel on 3-4 November 2005. The conference was an initiative of the Department’s Physical Activity Strategy. The conference was designed to address aspects of the Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (CAPANS) recommendations, and was funded through the Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce.

The main target group for the conference was Secondary Heads of Department and/or Teachers-In-Charge of Health and Physical Education in public schools in .

2. CONFERENCE PROGRAM

The conference provided a platform for school leaders in health and physical education to reflect on, explore and plan for action research on issues affecting adolescent physical inactivity in public schools in Western Australia.

There were several highlights of the conference program including keynote presentations, opportunities for reflection and sharing of practice, updates on system initiatives and time for the development of collegiate groups to address areas of common interest in increasing adolescent participation in physical activity.

A copy of the conference program is presented in Appendix 1.

3. CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT

A reference group consisting of seven (7) leaders in health and physical education in secondary schools and three (3) staff from central office was formed to oversee the organisation of the two day conference.

Two meetings were held to discuss conference themes, identify the professional development needs of Heads of Department and Teachers-in-Charge of Health and Physical Education in public schools, design a conference agenda and identify tasks for action. The Reference Group members were:

Alan Cummings Kevin Griffiths South Fremantle Senior High School Mark Hendon Modern School Ian Lockhart Newton Moore Senior High School Paul Beecham Margaret River Senior High School Peter Sinclair Balga Senior High School Wayne Baseden Willetton Senior High School Lisa Bayly DET Central Office Keren Caple DET Central Office Richard Lobb DET Central Office

4. EVALUATION

Evaluation of the Secondary School Leaders in Health and Physical Education Conference comprised a self-administered survey that was distributed to all delegates at the end of the second day of the conference.

Delegates were asked to rate their responses to a range of statements on a likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Additional open ended questions sought feedback on learnings gained in best practice system initiatives and physical activity practice, and the most useful and least useful sessions over the two days.

A copy of the evaluation form is presented in Appendix 2.

4.1 Total Registrations:

Metropolitan based schools 60

Rural/remote based schools 31

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS 91

TOTAL DELEGATES 87 (4 registered delegates did not attend)

District Number of delegates who attended Albany District 3 Bunbury District 4 Canning District 14 Esperance District 1 Fremantle District 17 Goldfields District 2 Kimberley District 1 Midlands District 4 Mid West District 3 Narrogin District 2 District 5 Swan District 13 Warren Blackwood District 3 West Coast District 15

TOTAL 87

4.2 Findings of the self-administered survey

A total of 78 delegates returned their evaluation surveys. Therefore, a response rate of 90% was generated.

The following tables provide a summary of responses related to key aspects of the conference.

Table 1: Learnings about physical activity best practice • Range and variety of strategies • Focus on importance of schools to available to address physical address physical inactivity inactivity • Good data available to support the • Important role of physical education case for physical activity in schools and the role of the teacher • Teachers too stretched – need more • Whole school and community support response required • Reinforced knowledge base • Provided motivation • Some individual teachers and • Not much schools are doing a good job • Increasing physical activity behaviours is challenging

Table 2: Learnings about best practice in system initiatives • Evidence to support PA - motivating • Course of Study in PE • Central office support available • Collegiate group processes • Involve my staff • Limited support/resources for teachers • General awareness • Need PE specialists in primary schools • Need for mandated time in PE • Need whole school approach • SIS reporting • Action learning • Already providing best practice • Not much

Table 3: Most useful session – including reason • Donna Cross • Collegiate groups/action planning o Motivating and interesting o Gave positive/pro-active o Good focus approach to leave with o Linked to purpose of conference o Networking extremely useful – o Excellent HPE ambassador new contacts, new ideas o Great suggestions for moving o Round table discussions forward o Making a plan o Related to schools and best way to teach • Both keynotes • Trevor Shilton o Useful and relevant information o Up to date data and statistics for advocacy o Interesting, relevant data o Informative, professional o Shocking trends in obesity since o Reinforces current knowledge advent of technology • Course of Study in PE • Reflecting and sharing o Further details explained o Viewing the plight of other schools • Friday – all day • CIP2 Workshop o Motivating, practical and useful o Great sharing activity but too o Time to share ideas short o Active involvement o Opened up PES package • Networking • Group work discussion • Planning for Action Day One – great • Everything group, useful ideas

Table 4: Least useful session – including reason • Course of Study in PE • CIP2 workshop o I find them hard to listen to o Insufficient time o No chance for input – needed o No detail, glossed over small group work o Too much information for time o Confusion! available o Don’t offer PE studies at our o Not engaging school o Good to listen but didn’t learn anything new o Too fast, too vague o Created more questions than answers o No conference package to complete pre-conference task o Assumed too much pre knowledge • Department of Sport & Recreation • Action Planning information session o Already knew o Already experienced in processes o Not necessary o Previous knowledge o Irrelevant • Keynote – Day 1 • Keynote – Day 2 o Seen already, nothing new o Knew it – without legislation no change o Visually uninspiring – too much information too quickly • Collegiate group/action planning • Thursday – all day o Too much time o Too rushed o Group unable to make decisions • Nothing

Table 5: Other comments • Great conference, well done, needs • Networking was invaluable to be a regular event • Feel inspired and motivated • Too rushed, not enough time for discussion especially Day One • Need primary school PE specialists • Venue, food, accommodation great • Need greater government commitment by way of funding, resources and teaching staff FIGURE 1: Responses to Statements

Overall, the conference was relevant to my professional learning needs

The PE studies course of study session provided and opportunity to engage in, and learn more about the new course

I did not enjoy the keynote presentations

The CIP2 workshop enabled me to share experiences and practices as a physical education leader

The conference was well organised

I have learned much as a result of this conference

Overall, the sessions on system initiatives were not relevant ot me

The keynote presentation on Friday was interesting and relevant

The conference was enjoyable

The planning for action sessions provided me with the skills and knowledge to participate in the action learning planning

The keynote presentation on Thursday was interesting and relevant

Overall, sessions provided new and/or interesting information

The conference has enabled me to meet new colleagues and strengthen existing networks

There was sufficient variety in the sessions

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 Level of Agreement (1-5) 5. DISCUSSION

In summary, the results were very positive towards all aspects of the conference. The conference was considered a good opportunity for networking; learning new information; identifying and reflecting on issues that affect leaders in health and physical education; and engaging in action learning projects with like minded colleagues to improve pedagogical approaches and skills that can lead to increased engagement and participation in physical activity and outcomes for students in public schools in Western Australia.

Delegates overwhelming felt the conference was relevant to their professional learning needs and enjoyed attending the conference. In particular the keynote presentations on Thursday and Friday mornings were particularly well received. Numerous delegates also identified the planning for action collegiate groups, with the opportunity to reflect, share and discuss a plan for action, as being the most useful aspect of the conference. Comments about some sessions on Day One being too rushed or too short for sufficient discussion was a commonly reported issue that needs to be considered by the organisers of the 2006 Innovation Forum.

APPENDIX 1

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INITIATIVES SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERS CONFERENCE

November 3, 2005

TIME SESSION VENUE FACILTATOR

8.00am Registration Foyer

8.30am Aboriginal Welcome and River Room Marie TAYLOR Conference Opening John GOUGOULIS

8.45am Keynote Address: River Room Trevor SHILTON Physical activity, the best buy in adolescent health. Challenges and solutions.

9.30am CIP2 Workshop: River Room Domenic CAMERA Policy and Procedures HPE and the CAR Policy Scope and Sequence

11.00am Morning Tea Foyer

11.30am Planning for Action: River Room Alan SWAN Project Planning The Action Learning process

12.30pm Lunch 150 Eastside

1.15pm Courses of Study: Joanne TAGGART Formal consultation draft Milanna HEBERLE Issues and solutions Renae CAMPBELL Feedback and support Lyn JOHNSON

3.00pm Summary River Room Richard LOBB

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INITIATIVES SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERS CONFERENCE

November 4, 2005 TIME SESSION VENUE FACILITATOR

8.00am Registration Foyer

8.30am Keynote Address: River Room Professor Donna CROSS If physical and health education are the answer - what's the question?

9.15am Linking Physical Activity River Room Richard LOBB Initiatives to Curriculum Work: Identification of issues Formation of collegiate groups

10.15am Morning Tea Foyer

10.45am Planning for In-School Action: River Room Richard LOBB Expectations and Support

11.15am Planning for Action: River Room Richard LOBB Collegiate group planning

12.45pm Lunch 150 Eastside

1.30pm Department of Sport and River Room Kirsty HEWITT Recreation Update

1.40pm Planning for Action: River Room Richard LOBB Collegiate group planning

2.30pm Group Presentations: River Room Richard LOBB Groups to present collegiate plans

3.00pm Summary and Evaluation River Room Richard LOBB

APPENDIX 2

Secondary School Leaders

in Health and Physical Education Conference Thursday 3 & Friday 4 November 2005 Evaluation Form

Please complete the following form to assist us in evaluating the conference and in planning similar events in the future. Your evaluation will remain confidential. Region (circle): Metropolitan Rural/remote

Please circle one (1) response for each of the following statements: Strongly Strongly Disagree Agree There was sufficient variety in the sessions 1 2 3 4 5 The conference has enabled me to meet new colleagues and 1 2 3 4 5 strengthen existing networks Overall, sessions provided new and/or interesting information 1 2 3 4 5 The keynote presentation on Thursday was interesting and relevant 1 2 3 4 5 The planning for action sessions provided me with the skills and 1 2 3 4 5 knowledge to participate in action learning planning The conference was enjoyable 1 2 3 4 5 The keynote presentation on Friday was interesting and relevant 1 2 3 4 5 Overall, the sessions on system initiatives were not relevant to me 1 2 3 4 5 I have learned much as a result of this conference 1 2 3 4 5 The conference was well organised 1 2 3 4 5 The CIP2 workshop enabled me to share experiences and practices 1 2 3 4 5 as a physical education leader I did not enjoy the keynote presentations 1 2 3 4 5 The PE studies course of study session provided an opportunity to 1 2 3 4 5 engage in, and learn more about the new course Overall, the conference was relevant to my professional learning needs 1 2 3 4 5 What did you learn about best practice in physical activity at the conference? ______What did you learn about best practice in system initiatives at the conference? ______Which session did you gain the most from and why? ______Which session did you gain the least from and why? ______

Any other comments? ______Thank you