Saturday 15 March 2025 9.30am-4.30pm
WHERE DOES ATHLETIC
DEVELOPMENT FIT INTO A MODERN PE & GAMES CURRICULUM
We are delighted to invite you to join us at our inaugural Athletic Development Conference at Exeter School.
One of the geographical challenges of being based in the southwest is accessing subject specific conferences and professional development. I recently met with other directors of sport and we all agreed that we needed to bring more guest speakers to the area as we look to share best practice and areas of expertise. I am pleased, therefore, that this conference has come to fruition and hope it is the first of other similar events in the coming years.
Athletic development and strength and conditioning has been a talking point amongst PE professionals for a number of years and the needs of all schools are slightly different. I am certain that many of the schools, colleges and clubs that are represented on the day will all be at a different stage of evolution. In my experience many will have invested in facilities and staffing without truly
thinking about the ‘why’ - what are we hoping to achieve? Some of the conversations that take place on the day will hopefully prove to be useful as we all look to provide inclusive and engaging curriculums.
I am very grateful to both Ian Taplin and Tom Farrow from Arete Performance for agreeing to present at the conference. I have been fortunate enough to work with Ian and Tom over the past 7 years. Their experience both in professional and youth sport is impressive and they have been instrumental in providing me with advice on how to integrate athletic development into the curriculum. I have also used them to help recruit young athletic development coaches and have always found their philosophies on youth sport refreshing and admired their holistic approach in developing people (players, pupils, coaches) in a results driven industry. I am certain that their presentations and workshops will be of great interest to any aspiring coach who works in youth sport.
I hope that many of you are able to join us on Saturday 15 March, we look forward to welcoming you to Exeter School.
Dave Gibson Director of Sport, Exeter School
RUNNING ORDER
09.30-10.00 Registration – refreshments available in Andrew’s Hall
10.00-10.15 Welcome
10.15-11.00
Speaker and topic
David Gibson - Director of Sport, Exeter School
Competing with each other not against each other
Why? A Philosophy for Youth Activity
11.00-11.15
Ian Taplin - Arete
P.L.A.Y. & Sport in Schools - Our approach to PE & Sport in the curriculum
Break with tea & coffee
11.15-12.00 A model for athletic development in schools
Ian Taplin - Arete
How & What? Applying your Philosophy: An Evolving Case Study
School profile
12.00-12.45
12.45-13.30
13.30-14.15
14.15-15.00
15.00-15.45
Isaac Hopkins - Exeter School AD Coach
Some of the challenges of implementing a programme in a school
Workshop 1 - Micro-dosing AD through warm-ups in PE & Games
Ian Taplin - Arete
Examples of how the PE department and games staff can implement an AD curriculum into everday PE and games lessons without it impacting the curriculum
Lunch - An opportunity to connect with the days sponsors: Perform Better (Gym specialists) and VALD
Workshop 2 - Sport Science in Schools: Lessons from Elite Sport
Adapting and applying best practice for the school setting. Using data and technology to make a positive impact on pupil outcomes and engagement
Workshop 3 - Speed and agility (practical)
Ian Taplin - Arete
Skill - Stress - Context: A framework to develop competency and transfer
Workshop 4 - Return to play: An interdisciplinary approach in a school setting
Tom Farrow - Arete
How do schools best manage pupils return to play following injuries? Links between medical teams, physios and school staff.
15.45-16.15 Plenary and final thoughtsCompeting with each other not against each other
An opportunity to connect and collaborate with other colleagues
Tom Farrow - Arete
Arete Performance has over 30 years of experience in professional rugby and have been entrusted to enhance the physical performance of some of the best players in the Men’s and Women’s games.
They have worked extensively in professional and academy sport, in both school sport and PE settings, with businesses, as well as with individuals within the corporate and entertainment sectors
Tom Farrow Founder & Director
Tom’s experience includes leading departments in Premier League Football, Premiership Rugby, International & Olympic Rugby Sevens, having worked with Chelsea FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, England Rugby/Team GB, British Canoeing, the English Institute of Sport and Wasps Rugby, in addition to working with a broad range of individuals, from elite athletes to CEOs, in a 1-1 capacity. He has developed a number of elite performance frameworks around Speed & Agility, Team Sport Conditioning and Contact Skills, that have been utilised by many of the above organisations.
They have coached Olympians, international footballers, international rugby players, fighters, tennis players, golfers, sprinters, and jumpers, amongst athletes from other sports.
Their Pre-Season Performance Camp allows them to put in play a wealth of knowledge and experience, to run the most comprehensive camp for players blending science and art in a way that is unique to Arete.
Ian Taplin Director
Ian’s career in elite sport has spanned over 20 years, with a wealth of experience within the complex dynamics of interdisciplinary performance organisations. This time has included leading departments in a number of senior and academy teams in Premiership Rugby, playing a part in the development of some of the most talented players of this period. With an academic background in both Sport Science and PE, Ian has also led and developed school athletic development/ PE curriculums in a number of schools.
