School curriculum resources on parkour, pickleball and online safety

Parkour, pickleball and netball will be included in the PE classes available to schools.

The Oak National Academy – an organization that helps schools deliver curriculum content at arm’s length – has launched teaching materials for teachers that aim to engage more young people.

The curriculum material for school PE classes includes parkour, also known as freerunning, which is the art of controlling terrain using only the body’s natural strength, mainly through running, jumping and climbing.

While popular parkour videos typically feature participants using freerunning techniques to scale urban structures, the classes can all be performed in a school gym using equipment such as beams and vaults.

It comes after Britain became the first country in the world to officially recognize parkour as a sport in 2017.

The Oak National Academy, a government-funded maker of curriculum resources for schools in England, will roll out the learning resources for nine subjects this academic year

For computer use, schools are being offered online safety lessons for students aged five and up – covering the risks of excessive screen time, responsible online behavior and cyberbullying.

Art and design classroom resources include contemporary artists such as Alberta Whittle, Chila Kumari Burman and Frank Bowling, in addition to well-known figures such as Picasso and Van Gogh.

Matt Hood, CEO of Oak National Academy, said: “We want to inspire the next generation of artists, tech entrepreneurs, athletes, coaches and musicians with our teaching.

“These comprehensive and exciting new curriculum plans will help schools and teachers deliver great lessons that spark children’s interests and prepare them for life beyond the school gates.”

“Digital skills are woven into our computing resources and online safety also plays a prominent role, something we know parents place great importance on.”

Jason Elsom, chief executive of the charity Parentkind, welcomed the inclusion of online safety in learning resources for young learners.

He said: “When we talk to parents, online safety and the risks of social media are consistently one of the biggest concerns.”

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Physical education is essential for promoting the benefits of physical activity and healthy living, and curriculum resources covering different and more modern sports can be very useful in some situations are .

“Most importantly, schools retain the freedom to access and adapt a wide range of learning materials in a way that best suits the needs of their students.”