School Centres for Teaching Excellence (SCTE): understanding new directions for schools and universities in Health and Physical Education

Abstract

This paper critically analyzes a community collaborative approach for implementing Health and Physical Education (HPE) lessons within Gippsland primary schools (Victoria, Australia). The rural community collaborations reflected upon are embedded within the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) ‘School Centres for Teaching Excellence’ (SCTE) initiative and are timely with the current curriculum reform in Health and Physical Education. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on and share the experiential learning offered where the curriculum is relevant, engaging, contemporary, physically active, enjoyable and developmentally appropriate for all stakeholders; namely university pre-service teachers, primary school children and primary teachers. It is envisaged that through sharing the various dynamics involved in a SCTE program, educators may benefit and subsequently consider the suitability and possibility of establishing similar collaborations within their context.

Keywords:

• community collaboration
• Health and Physical Education
• partnerships
• teacher education
• schools
• strength-based approach

Notes on contributor

Tim Lynch is a Senior Lecturer at Monash University – Gippsland campus where he coordinates the Health and Physical Education (HPE) discipline stream within the Bachelor of Primary Education course. He is an experienced school leader, classroom and Health and Physical Education (HPE) primary school teacher. Tim is an advocate of quality HPE experiences for all children, which inspires his research. In 2006 he was the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) Teresa Carlson Award recipient (Queensland branch) for his outstanding dedication to the teaching of HPE and promotion of its benefits within the community.