WITH THE London 2012 Olympics less than five years away, and with growing concerns over increasing levels of obesity in society, the role of a Physical Education teacher, and the involvement of young children in sport, has become even more important. And, if the three nominees for the respectable PE Teacher of the Year award who attended today, are any guide then the future of our young children is in very safe hands indeed.

For the judging panel, choosing between Helen Finbow (Woodhey High School, Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester), Annie Thomas (Haileybury College in Hertford) and Kellea Turner (of Deyes High School, Liverpool) was a difficult process, given all their respective dedication, commitment and tireless efforts to their pupils. In the end, though, after much deliberating, the award went to Finbow, a hockey teacher of more than 20 years, who had remained devoted and, more importantly, enthusiastic to her position despite the many changes to school life and the national curriculum since the 1980s.

“It is great to be recognised after all these years of being a teacher,” she said. “We all talk about healthy lifestyles so much these days that is nice, as a teacher, that we can contribute to that.”

What stood out primarily for the judges was summed up very succinctly by Howard Turner, who is head of PE at Woodhey, when he remarked that Finbow’s results in this subject are “always well above” the national average, particularly in the number of girls now involved. He also stressed that following her tuition, many of her pupils have retained her passion for the subject, studying sport at A-level and at university. This is helped by her 15 hours extra a week spent coaching various sports groups, outside of the normal school day, normally spreading over to a Saturday morning when she coaches hockey to more than 50 year-seven pupils. As she so modestly points out, she “literally runs out of time during the week” to coach everybody and so, with willing pupils, the weekend becomes part of the curriculum.

Facilities at the school have improved too; thanks to Finbow, the school was successful in its bid for a new Astroturf pitch and set of changing rooms, which cost upwards of £750,000 a year ago. Prior to this, the hockey teams had trained on an old shale pitch, which doubled up as a playground, using lighting provided from nearby classrooms. As a result, though, success has been quick to follow, and Finbow keeps both pupils and parents updated by contributing to a half-term bulletin board.

“I get so much enjoyment from seeing the children achieve,” she said. “We are inundated with people trying to come to our hockey classes that we have to turn them away sometimes.”

Also nominated: Annie Thomas (Haileybury College, Hertford) and Kellea Turner (Deyes High schools)

Presented by: Jeremy Guscott

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