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This week we are are delighted to welcome our guest blogger, Jake Dyer. Jake is currently Head of Department at South Nottinghamshire Academy in Nottingham. He has over 12 years of experience working in education, including eight years teaching in secondary schools. At the time of writing this blog, he was working within the Archway Learning Trust at Bluecoat Trent Academy while completing the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL). He also held a trust-wide role at Archway Learning Trust in Physical Education, supporting curriculum development and staff training across multiple schools. He is passionate about raising standards, improving student outcomes, and driving positive change within Physical Education.
Over to you Jake...
Bridging the gap between theory and practice in PE
At Bluecoat Trent Academy, innovation is at the heart of everything we do, especially when it comes to teaching and learning. In our ongoing mission to provide a rich, well-rounded educational experience, the Physical Education department has recently embarked on a new journey: ‘Blending theory and practice: Transforming core PE with The EverLearner’. Traditionally, core PE lessons focus heavily on physical performance, often leaving the theoretical aspects of sport underexplored. However, by introducing this dynamic digital platform into our lessons, we’re breaking that mould, bringing the ‘why’ behind movement, fitness and training into sharper focus for our students.
This blog explores how and why we’ve embedded The EverLearner into our teaching, the impact it’s having on student engagement and understanding, and how it’s helping shape more informed decisions around assessment and course selection. Through this blended approach, we’re equipping our students with the knowledge and tools to become not just better performers, but more thoughtful, confident learners both on and off the field.
Why we’re using The EverLearner at KS3
The EverLearner is a digital learning platform that offers expertly designed content, interactive lessons, and revision tools tailored to GCSE and A-Level specifications. While it’s most commonly used for exam preparation, at Bluecoat Trent Academy, we’ve recognised its potential to deepen understanding and engagement in core PE lessons, which are often non-examined in regard to knowledge and understanding.
Our aim is to bridge the gap between practical performance and theoretical knowledge, helping students better understand why they move in certain ways, how fitness affects performance, and what physiological principles underpin effective training.
How we’re using The EverLearner at KS3
The platform has been embedded across year 9 initially as part of a blended learning approach. We set students homework focused on topics within the course, selecting either videos or quizzes from The EverLearner that relate directly to the physical activity they are doing for core PE. For example:
- While learning about fitness training, students might complete a lesson from The EverLearner on the principles of training or the components of fitness.
- When exploring team sports, such as football or netball, learners might revise content around the cardiovascular system.
- During wet weather sessions or indoor lessons, The EverLearner offers a structured and meaningful way to engage in PE theory, something that traditionally gets overlooked in core PE.
- This approach not only strengthens understanding but also allows students to make more informed decisions during practical sessions. It supports different learning styles, with visual and auditory explanations that reinforce key concepts introduced by the teacher.
Using gamification to boost engagement in KS3
One of the most effective strategies we’ve implemented to increase student engagement with The EverLearner has been the use of gamification. By introducing elements of competition, reward, and progression, we’ve been able to transform what might otherwise feel like a traditional homework task into something students genuinely look forward to.In our KS3 core PE lessons, we’ve set up leaderboards to track progress on quizzes and video completions, with students earning points for consistency, accuracy, and improvement. These points feed into group challenges and inter-class competitions, creating a healthy sense of competition and community spirit. Top performers are celebrated in lessons, and we’ve introduced small prizes and recognition certificates to keep motivation high.
We’ve also encouraged students to set personal goals within the platform, such as beating a previous quiz score or completing a series of lessons around a specific topic, and given them feedback and encouragement as they progress. This not only fosters intrinsic motivation but also helps students take ownership of their learning journey.
Gamification has proven especially powerful for students who may not always feel the most confident in practical PE. By giving them opportunities to succeed and be recognised in a different way, it has helped broaden the appeal of PE lessons and shown that everyone can excel in their own right, whether through movement, mindset or mastery of knowledge.
A new tool for assessment and course selection
One of the most valuable aspects of The EverLearner platform has been its ability to serve as a formative assessment tool for students’ knowledge and understanding of PE theory. As Head of PE, this has provided me with a clear, data-informed picture of each student’s engagement, strengths, and areas for development in the theoretical side of sport.Using the detailed tracking and progress reports available through the platform, I’ve been able to make more informed and evidence-based decisions when it comes to selecting students for our GCSE PE and Cambridge Nationals in Sport Studies pathways. Rather than relying solely on practical performance or general interest, we now have concrete data that highlights a student's ability to engage with key concepts, retain information, and apply it meaningfully. All of which are essential skills for success in both qualifications.
This has led to more confident course placements, increased student success in theory-based lessons, and better alignment between student aptitude and curriculum expectations.
Impact on students
Early feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. They appreciate the clear explanations and the ability to revisit topics at their own pace. It has also fostered a sense of ownership over their learning: students are able to identify areas where they need to improve and track their progress over time.We’re already seeing improvements in confidence, articulation of key terms and application of knowledge in practical contexts. For many students, especially those who are less motivated by the practical nature of PE, The EverLearner has added a new dimension to PE lessons that has enhanced motivation and engagement.
Looking ahead
The PE department at Bluecoat Trent Academy is excited to continue developing our use of The EverLearner. In the coming months, we’ll be exploring ways to integrate it further into our assessment strategy and using the platform’s analytics to inform planning and differentiation across all of KS3. We will also be trialling the use of the new Pre-GCSE PE course recently launched by The EverLearner, to enhance transition from core PE in KS3 to theory PE in KS4. Early thoughts have been to use this in preparation for options, to give students who are thinking of choosing a PE course the taste of what is to come and subsequently give staff, students and parents accurate data to support choices.
By combining technology, theory, and practice, we are creating a richer, more meaningful PE experience that prepares our students not just for exams, but for lifelong participation and understanding of physical activity.
Thank you for reading. We look forward to sharing more about our journey with The EverLearner soon.
Jake
