This week, we are excited to feature the remarkable work being accomplished by the team at Manchester Communication Academy (MCA) with their Year 9 girls.
Through the Manchester RISE Up programme, MCA is transforming engagement in PE, fostering movement for mental wellbeing, and ultimately helping to improve life chances for these young people.
In this case study, we explore how MCA’s commitment to enhancing girls’ engagement in physical education is creating lasting impact and empowering young women within their school community.
MCA is a mixed, non-selective secondary school that serves local children in the heart of Manchester. It is part of the Greater Manchester Academies Trust (GMAT) and is known for its commitment to student wellbeing and community engagement. MCA was awarded the Outstanding Secondary Practice award at the Youth Sport Trust Conference in 2024.
The school has also taken a leadership role in the Manchester RISE Up programme, an initiative aimed at improving students' mental wellbeing and engagement through physical education (PE), in partnership with Team MCR, GM Moving and Future Action.
At the helm of MCA's innovative PE department is Joe Neild, the Head of PE. Joe is passionate about the power of movement to inspire confidence and improve mental wellbeing, particularly among students who might feel disengaged from traditional PE activities.
His teams latest focus has been on developing girls' engagement in PE and extra-curricular clubs, using the RISE Up programme to support Year 9 girls.
Intent
The main objective of MCA's involvement in the RISE Up programme is to improve the engagement and attainment of girls within PE lessons and extra-curricular activities. "We want to boost engagement and attainment among girls in PE, particularly those in Year 9," Joe explains.
Joe’s goal is to tackle this issue by creating an environment that makes PE more engaging, builds confidence, and encourages participation in physical activities both during and after school hours.
Joe emphasises, "By introducing the RISE Up programme, we’re hoping to reignite the girls' interest in PE and create a more inclusive and supportive environment where they feel confident to join in."
Implementation
Joe and his brilliant team have restructured PE lessons for a group of 25 Year 9 girls, held twice a week, to prioritise confidence building and give the girls a sense of agency over their activity choices. The programme is delivered within regular PE time and focuses on helping the students understand how physical activity can enhance their mental wellbeing.
"We want the girls to take ownership of their experience," Joe explains. "Whether that means choosing to work out in the fitness suite or picking from a circuit of different RISE activities, we want them to find joy and happiness through movement."
The activities offered include options that cater to the girls' interests, such as trampolining and inclusive team-based games, as well as individual exercises that promote self-awareness and resilience through body scanning.
The RISE activities, which include a combination of team exercises, stress-busting circuits, and energisers, are designed to help the girls regulate their emotions and develop belonging and healthy habits, making physical activity fun and accessible.
By giving students the choice, Joe and his team ensure that each girl feels empowered and engaged, building their confidence both in and out of the PE setting.
Student Voice
"Within just four weeks, our Year 9 girls showed rapid improvement in both engagement and enjoyment in their PE lessons.
We asked them for feedback on their RISE Up experience, and here’s what they had to say:
'I have really enjoyed having the choice of activity within the lesson and doing something I wanted to do rather than being told.'
Another student shared, 'It has been great enjoying my PE lessons and doing something different; I have really enjoyed the Just Dance lesson in particular.'
One of the most impactful comments was, 'By taking part in RISE Up, I now enjoy my PE lessons.'
Measuring Impact
To gauge the impact, MCA completed adapted versions of the WEMWBS and the School Wellbeing Scorecard both before and after the intervention.
The School Wellbeing Scorecard showed impressive growth, rising from a high starting point of 58% pre-intervention to 92% post-intervention—a 34% improvement in just one half term.
Pre Intervention School Wellbeing Scorecard:
Post Intervention School Wellbeing Scorecard:
"We used the WEMWBS survey to measure the impact of our RISE Up programme, and the results have been fantastic—a 63% improvement in student wellbeing based on teachers’ observations," says Joe.
"Since introducing RISE Up, we’ve seen real progress in students’ optimism, relaxation, and self-confidence, with many now feeling more capable of managing their own wellbeing. The programme has also led to noticeable improvements in Behaviour, Engagement, Mental Health, and Personal Development for our target group."
Joe explains, "A big part of this success comes from giving students the freedom to choose their activities, which boosts their sense of agency.
Whether they’re working out in the fitness suite or taking part in group activities, having that choice in a psychologically safe environment is key.
It’s about more than just physical engagement—it’s a chance for them to explore their emotions and build emotional intelligence in a secure and empowering way."
"By combining choice with safety, RISE Up is strengthening students’ resilience and wellbeing, helping them feel more connected to each other and more supported within the school community," he adds.
"It’s been amazing to see how empowering students to make their own choices can help them develop skills that will support them far beyond PE."
Headteacher’s Insight: The Transformative Impact of RISE Up
MCA's inspirational headteacher, Miss Watmough, has been thrilled with the outcomes of the RISE Up programme.
“At MCA, we believe that the health and wellbeing of our students is at the heart of everything we do.
The RISE Up Programme plays a crucial role in supporting our Year 9 girls by fostering resilience, self-confidence, and emotional strength. The positive impact has been profound, as we've seen these young women grow in their ability to navigate challenges, embrace their potential, and support one another in a safe and nurturing environment.”
Her words capture the transformative impact the Manchester RISE Up programme is having on the students at MCA, creating a foundation for their success and wellbeing.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, Joe hopes to expand the programme and embed it within MCA's wider curriculum. "Our long-term goal is to integrate this intervention into our Healthy Bodies/Healthy Minds curriculum.
By explicitly teaching the importance of physical, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing through movement, we can help all of our students develop lifelong habits that support their overall health," he says.
"This is just the start of our RISE Up programme," Joe adds. "We’re looking to add extra layers of support to help more of our young people across the school and across Manchester, in partnership with Future Action, Team MCR, and GM Moving."
Expressing Gratitude
We would like to thank Mr Neild, Miss Watmough and the brilliant team at MCA for their fantastic work supporting their brilliant young people.
We would also like to thank Team MCR and GM Moving for partnering with us on this transformational pilot programme.
An Invitation to Manchester Schools and Stakeholders to Join Our Manchester RISE Up Collaboration
Joe and his team at MCA have completed our RISE Up Early Intervention Mental Wellbeing and Trauma-Informed PE teacher training courses, before creating a bespoke programme tailored to the unique needs of their young people.
Building on this success, we are developing a collaborative network of schools and stakeholders across Greater Manchester who share our vision for supporting student wellbeing through the Manchester RISE Up programme.
Vicky Marshall, Director of Team MCR, shared her enthusiasm for the programme's impact:
"I am delighted that Manchester Communication Academy are on this journey with us to enable more young people to not only positively enjoy and understand the benefits of physical activity to their mental health but to help them understand when and how to adopt strategies at times of need.
The staff at MCA have committed to the training and understanding the science of what happens to a young person when in need before constructing a suitable programme.
I am looking forwards to working with MCA to engage more schools across Manchester & Greater Manchester to reach more young people.
We’re excited to lead this wider programme, collaborating with schools and multi-agency organisations. If you would like to know more or join us on this journey, please do reach out."
The brilliant Greenside Primary School has recently joined us, and we warmly welcome primary, secondary, and special schools to be part of this transformative journey.
If you're interested in joining, please reach out here for more information or complete the School Wellbeing Scorecard, and we will be in touch.
Have a brilliant week, and thank you for all you do to transform the life chances of your young people.
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