A KENDAL school will help train the next generation of PE teachers after forming a ‘ground-breaking’ partnership with the University of Cumbria.

From September, trainee teachers studying their Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) will be based at Kirkbie Kendal School.

The secondary’s physical education provision is graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, with its 1,000-plus pupils given access to resources including Lakes Leisure Kendal, vast pitches and astro-turf courts.

And with links to world-class facilities such as Kendal DoJo, the partnership’s aim is to immerse future PE teachers in a strong learning environment which boosts their skills, confidence and employability beyond their studies.

Phil Hyman, Kirkbie Kendal School head teacher, said: “This is a fantastic partnership with the university and we are delighted to have the PE trainees based here.

“We have fantastic resources, particularly the PE staff and our facilities, and the links to Kendal DoJo and local sports clubs will provide further opportunities for the trainees and our students.”

The University of Cumbria has formed other partnerships with schools, academies, local authorities and the private sector using its ‘learning partnership’ model.

It aims to adopt collaborative ways of working with other establishments to help both it and partner organisations create an ‘expansive workplace’ for teachers and tutors, with support for pupils.

Dr Samantha Twiselton, executive dean of the faculty of education at the university, said: “Partnership work with Kirkbie Kendal School, within the South Lakes Federation of Schools, provides the ideal opportunity for our outstanding institutions to collaborate.

“At the University of Cumbria, we are at the forefront of innovation in teacher education and this is another example of our developmental work within the sector.”

Kirkbie Kendal School pupils are also set to reap the rewards of the newly-formed alliance, according to head of PE Dean Barker. He said: “The opportunity for trainee teachers to work in an outstanding PE department will be of huge benefit, not only to them but also to the school students with whom they will work. We are looking forward to working together in what is a ground-breaking partnership.”