Advocacy & Influence

Advocacy & Influence

The Association for Physical Education (afPE) is the only physical education and school sport subject association in the UK.

We are committed to being the representative organisation of choice for people and agencies delivering or supporting the delivery of physical education in schools and in the wider community. 

Our work includes developing physical education related policy and related statements, responding to consultations, meeting with representatives from partner organisations and political representatives, and promoting the subject in a variety of forums.

Our purpose is to promote and maintain high standards and safe practice in all aspects and at all levels of physical education, influencing developments in physical education at national and local levels.

We provide quality assured services and resources, and valuable professional support for members and the teaching profession through a range of high quality professional learning opportunities, regular updates, advice, insurance cover and dedicated help lines for health & safety and legal advice.

The association believes that physical education experiences should be planned and progressive and should act as the foundation stones for lifelong engagement in physical activity and healthy lifestyles. For some young people physical education in school is their only organised and regular engagement with physical activity; therefore the workforce should be given support in order to develop all the necessary skills to deliver the subject. In order to achieve high quality physical education outcomes for all young people afPE believes there should be good professional learning opportunities for those who deliver physical education and school sport. Through the National College afPE will provide a range of appropriate professional learning which will meet the needs of teachers and other adults who support young peoples’ learning.

School sport will only be successful if the foundations laid by high quality physical education in the curriculum are broad and strong.  School sport should take place beyond the specified curriculum and should aim to develop and broaden the foundation learning as well as creating links with clubs and other activities in the community. In other words physical education motivates, prepares and inspires lifelong participation in regular physical activity including informal, recreational and competitive sporting activities. The legacy of London 2012 will so much depend on the quality of the learning experiences that young people have in school and beyond.

The association advocates that the learning experiences of physical education should focus on young people “Learning to Move” and “Moving to Learn”. Learning to move is about the learning of the movement skills required for participation in different types of physical activities. Moving to learn is not only about the learning needed for participation in physical activities but also the learning integrated with other aspects of school learning within and beyond the curriculum.

Advocacy work for afPE is ultimately the responsibility of the Board but members at all levels also have responsibility for raising the profile of the Association and promoting its policies and work. Our aim is to reach out to everyone and members have a key role to play in promoting the values of physical education and afPE to friends, family and colleagues.

Although individual Board members take on specific aspects of afPE’s work, this is done through liaison with staff and members which ensures that appropriate expertise is utilised. Other members are also invited to represent the Association in order to influence policy and practice. The Policy Advisory Group is developing as a powerful and influential forum through which the members can voice their views and help to develop the strategic direction of afPE. 

afPE is a membership association and you the members are vital to its success!