BLOG: Looking to the future of sport and physical activity in FE

With just a few days to go until the first virtual AoC Sport National Conference, Dean Hardman, AoC Director of Sport & Student Experience, looks ahead to what’s on offer for colleges and why it’s important to stay connected as a sector as the return to sport, physical activity and face to face education continues. While the pandemic continues to affect everybody across the FE sector and beyond, there are plenty of reasons to feel positive about the future for sport and physical activity in colleges and we want optimism to be among the key themes of our first ever virtual AoC Sport National Conference. So, while there has, understandably, been a lot of focus and attention paid to the issues we have all faced over the past 12 months, all of our keynotes and breakout sessions will very much focus on the future and how we can collectively make college sport and physical activity, and the student experience, the best they can possibly be. We will be bringing together sport in the curriculum, sports development and football into one online event for the first time and we’re all very excited to welcome colleagues from the sport and FE sectors. Thanks to our sponsors NCFE and our partners, including Sport England, the FA, UCFB, VEO, British Esports Association, The RFL, British Rowing, Rounders England, England Lacrosse and, of course, many of our member colleges. The conference will give plenty of food for thought and allow us to start to shape a vision for sport and physical activity in post-16 education that is inclusive and provides the best experiences and opportunities for young people, spanning curriculum and enrichment and for talented elite performers to the students who simply want to live more active lifestyles (and everyone in between). We cannot wait to get started. Book your place at the 2-day AoC Sport National Conference from £50 + VAT