Just a year ago, PE sessions at Rhode Street School in Hamilton were limited to once a week and much of the PE equipment was broken or lost. Sports participation was also low – it had been almost a decade since students had qualified to represent at regional school sports events.
Fast forward to today and, thanks to the visionary efforts of head of PE, Arti Raju, the school is buzzing with physical activity and new equipment – not to mention new leadership opportunities.
Arti, who teaches year 7 and 8 students and has been at Rhode Street School for nine years, has always understood the power of sport in fostering a sense of belonging. After moving to Aotearoa from Fiji in 2006, she established the Hamilton Fiji netball club to help her community stay active and connected. She brings a similar ethos to her role as a teacher. “We know our students have many strengths and giving them opportunities to showcase and develop those through sports is crucial,” she says.
At the beginning of 2024, Arti participated in a series of professional learning sessions delivered by Sport Waikato and funded by Healthy Active Learning (a joint government initiative). These sessions inspired her with new ways to integrate physical activity across the school, providing both the knowledge, resources, and funding opportunities to overcome the challenges her and her colleagues faced.
“I realised that maybe teachers are not delivering physical education because they don’t have the knowledge to do so,” Arti says.
After surveying students, Arti found that only 28 percent felt there was enough equipment available at break times. With the school’s annual PE budget set at $2,000 and concerns from senior leadership and the board about the potential misuse of new gear, the challenge was clear.
Supported by Sport Waikato and a Ministry of Education curriculum adviser, Arti shared what she had learned with the rest of the staff and advocated to senior leadership for investment in equipment.
Thanks to funding from Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa, the PE shed is now stocked with a range of multipurpose equipment, including buckets, balls, tennis gear, racquets, hoops and more. This new gear is not only used during PE sessions but in other curriculum areas, creating more opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day.
“We are seeing lots of healthy kids running around, having fun and being themselves rather than creating unnecessary issues or drama.”
It is now an expectation that PE is delivered twice a week, with many teachers running sessions every day and integrating physical activity across all areas of learning. This has led to fewer behavioural issues during break times. “We are seeing lots of healthy kids running around, having fun and being themselves rather than creating unnecessary issues or drama,” Arti says.
Her own understanding of the value of physical activity in education has also shifted over the last year too. “I have seen that reading, writing and maths don’t have to only happen inside the classroom. You just have to be creative,” she says.
This supports research highlighted in the Active Bodies, Active Minds report, which shows that increased time allocated to physical activity can positively impact engagement and success at school.
At Rhode Street School, Arti has established a student leadership group to manage the new equipment. Using a simple online booking system, student leaders deliver equipment to classrooms three times a day. The PE shed is off-limits for anyone except these students – including kaiako.
The changes have also sparked an increase in students playing sports outside of school, whether that’s hockey, netball, or rugby.
At the end of 2024, for the first time in over eight years, students participated in a regional inter-school sports competition. Of the eight that attended, four finished on the podium. “That was a proud moment,” Arti says.
The success is down to a team approach, she says. “You need the support of your senior leadership and to know how to make the most of the support available to you.” Arti’s goal is to make these changes sustainable for years to come. “I’m proud of bringing physical education and active play back into our kura, and as long as I’m here, I’m hoping to encourage and motivate everyone.”
Amelia Reynolds works for Sport NZ.
