Schools Case Studies

Willow Brook Primary School Curriculum Enrichment Project

Date Added: Thu, 20 Jan 2011

Background

In 2006, Concept 2 was involved in a most successful pilot scheme to bring indoor rowing to primary pupils in four inner city schools in the St.Ann's area of Nottingham. The Concept 2 team spent a day in each school, setting up 12 indoor rowers and the technology to link them to a giant screen showing races in progress. Following the enthusiastic reaction to this event, Concept 2 Education Team have set up a longer-term study at Willow Brook Primary School in Keyworth, Notts.

Dan Philpott, PDM at Dayncourt School Radcliffe on Trent, Chris Patterson, SSCO at South Wolds School Keyworth, and the Fitness Industry Association were all contacted and fully briefed and have been kept up to date with progress since the programme's inception.

A visit by the Concept 2 team of John Wilson, Alex Skelton and Keith Atkinson in the Autumn term of 2004 saw pupils, parents and staff briefed about technique, the rationale behind the scheme, and the need for more trained instructors to assist with the project.

Project Aims

The overall aim was to improve the health and well being of the community through a regular programme of exercise on the indoor rower. We also hoped to achieve the following:

attract youngsters not into traditional sports by providing them with an appetising alternative;
encourage the fun element of exercise;
develop a commitment to an active lifestyle;
ensure the sustainability of the project and progress from it;
gather data and track improvements in the performance of individual pupils.

Getting Started

As a result of the meeting, an Indoor Rowing Club was set up for pupils. parents and staff.

Incentives for users included:

Distance Awards
Use of the C2 website
Competition with local schools
Team to compete at the British Indoor Rowing Championships
A general improvement in performance
Improving test scores for the three regular Baseline Tests : Maximum Pull, 20 second Anaerobic Test and 2 minute Aerobic
Test.

The club was open initially to Year 6 pupils, before and after school and to parents in the morning and staff after school

Issues

The team is currently concerned about the sustainability of the Indoor Rowing Club and progression from it. Equipment is currently on loan from the company, and the school will need to use an "Awards for All" grant to purchase new machines. The support of the PDM and SSCO is needed in this. South Wolds, the local comprehensive school, does not at present have indoor rowers, so the pupils moving there will either have to return to Willow Brook to continue their training, or South Wolds will have to equip itself with machines if the activity is to continue.

At present the 2 main instructors are Ian Jenkinson, Head of Willow Brook, and Keith Atkinson of Concept 2. More are needed. Concept 2 has undertaken to provide any necessary training.

Progression. The Outlook?

South Wolds has a good experience of on-water rowing, with links to Nottingham Boat Club and Nottinghamshire Schools' Rowing Association.

Since most fitness clubs have indoor rowers, there is easy transfer of the skill and the activity into this area post-school. Home use is another possibility.

Data and Results

33 pupils from Year 6 of Willow Brook Primary School, Keyworth, Notts. (and Head teacher Ian Jenkinson) took part in the Indoor Rowing Project. There were 16 boys and 17 girls.

Distances

In the period of January to July 2005:
8 pupils rowed less than 10k
8 rowed 10k
3 rowed 25k
9 rowed 50k
5 rowed 100k

One member of staff also completed 150k

Frequency

7 pupils rowed every day
5 pupils rowed most days
. Girls attended more regularly than boys

Tests

3 tests were applied in January and June:

Best 500m split (indication of power)
20 seconds anaerobic test
2 minutes aerobic test

No gender difference was recorded due to lack of wide variation between boys' and girls' performances.

The ranges were as follows:

1. 500m split	January	3.19 - 2.09
1. 500m split	June	3.03 - 1.50
2. 20 seconds anaerobic	January	54m - 82m
2. 20 seconds anaerobic	June	53m - 86m
3. 2 minutes aerobic	January	259m - 437m
3. 2 minutes aerobic	June	282m - 457m

Comments on the results

Split times and aerobic performance improved with regular exercise.

Anaerobic performance - this test seemed to show innate capacity. The training regime was aimed at general rather than specific fitness.

The average improvement for the 2-minute row was 20 metres, although one girl added 60 metres to her score.

These results compare well with the C2 National Database which shows a range of 213m - 555m for Year 7 boys' and girls' 2-minute Aerobic row, and a range of 24m - 108m for KS3 pupils' 20-second Anaerobic score.

Reactions from Staff and Pupils

What staff said

"Indoor Rowing at Willow Brook Primary - it's a personal challenge for the children ( and staff) every single day and it's hard to keep pace with it - but what a great problem to have!" Ian Jenkinson, Head Teacher

"I know I should row far more often, as when I make the effort to row every morning before school, I feel fitter and healthier. From September I shall make that effort! That's a promise!" Janet Noblet, class 6 teacher

What pupils said

Good preparation for the day ahead

"I have enjoyed rowing in the morning because it helps me to concentrate on school for the rest of the day." Gemma

"It makes me more alert and helps me to concentrate on school work." Yasmine

"It got me ready for the day ahead." Michael

Indoor Rowing is fun

"Rowing has been enjoyable. It has made me fitter and happier. I wish I could take one home." Daniel

"Rowing was brilliant! It's an excellent way of keeping fit and it's fun too." Sofia

"Rowing is really fun. I reached 25,000metres. I was very happy." Beth

Gives confidence and improves performance

"I wasn't very active. I'm now a faster runner." Danielle

"The other day I came third in the 200 metres. Normally I wouldn't have entered. Rowing four times a week has improved things." Lucy

"I'm fitter and stronger and have improved all my distance and time PBs. I think rowing has changed my school life." Katie

Proud � a sense of achievement

"I am proud of myself rowing 100,000 metres. I will always try to row." Michael L

"I row 4 to 5 times a week. I am up to 100,000 metres. I am very proud of myself." Jade

"I have reached 50,000 metres. I'm very proud of myself. I'm glad I started rowing." Lucy P.

What next?

The SOUTH WOLDS/ELLIOTT DURHAM Project

The 2 comprehensives and 3 or 4 feeder primaries will have Concept 2 Indoor Rowers

Project Aims

to improve the health and well-being of young people and the community and combat obesity
to give opportunities to youngsters not attracted by traditional school sporting activities, to the disabled and disaffected ;and to better meet the needs of non-ball players
to encourage the fun element of exercise
to develop a commitment to an active lifestyle
to ensure the sustainability of these projects
to track the progress of individuals and gather data for information

Aspirations

In addition it is hoped that:

classroom performance improves
truancy is reduced
good standards of behaviour are established and anti-social behaviour reduced
vandalism is reduced
important values are inculcated as pupils learn to win, lose and be part of a team
respect for others' efforts and performance is created

C2 � School Partnership

The schools involved will be expected to enter into an agreement with Concept 2 UK in which they undertake to:

maintain the machines
undergo staff training up to coach level
collect data on a regular basis
contribute to the PDM/SSCO End of Project Report
involve staff, parents, governors and the wider community

For further information about Indoor Rowing developments please contact the Head Teacher: [email protected]

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