Scoping the Potential of Physical Education as a Core Subject
06 February 2023
 06/02/23 In June 2021 the afPE Taskforce published a report entitled ‘The Future of Physical Education’. The report issued a clear call to government to put physical education at the heart of school life. Following on from the pilot by United Learning schools, to trial PE as a core subject, external research has been conducted by Loughborough University and the University of Edinburgh which outlines five key recommendations. Sue Wilkinson MBE, CEO at afPE said:
“The afPE Taskforce was created to review physical education provision, through extensive consultation to gain insight in how we can collectively provide the best outcomes for all children and young people, in and through transformational PE. Chaired by Edward Timpson, CBE, KC, MP who through his visionary leadership ensured that the recommendations were embedded in afPE’s strategic plan to place PE at the heart of every school, core by another name!”
“afPE is indebted to United Learning in opening their doors to have a professional and honest debate about PE being front and central to ensure commitment to improving physical, emotional, social and cognitive wellbeing. The independent research team has provided suggestions to improve what we can do, but celebrate what is working and has worked. I would like to put on record afPE’s thanks to everyone involved in making this happen. In the words of Marie Forleo, ‘we have to believe that we are making a difference’, we must also do different things and not the same things differently’, if PE is to offer part of the solution, or nothing will change, if we do not change it!”
“Join us in aspiring to have PE as a priority, at the very heart of every school!”
Dr Oliver Hooper, Lecturer in Physical Education and Sports Coaching at Loughborough University said:
“We are delighted to have been able to work with the Association for Physical Education to undertake this significant piece of research. There has been much support for physical education as a core subject but we recognise that to move this agenda forward we will need to have robust research evidence to demonstrate the difference it can make. This phase of the research has highlighted not only the challenges of moving toward PE as a core subject, but also the many potential opportunities as well as the support the profession needs to get there. The next phase will now work collaboratively with various stakeholders to determine what physical education as a core subject might ‘look like’, in order to outline a clear vision moving forwards. We’d like to thank the Association for Physical Education and United Learning for their commitment to and continued support of this work.”
Shaun Dowling, Head of Sport at United Learning said:
“We are proud to have partnered with afPE and taken up the mantle in piloting this important action research project. A sincere thank you to colleagues in PE departments and senior leadership teams across our participating schools for their ongoing support of the project and for doing all they can to put PE at the heart of school life.”
“The recommendations of this report are wide-ranging and ambitious. At United Learning, we are already starting to implement some of the changes and expectations that we are confident will further enhance the value of PE for our young people. We look forward to continuing to work with afPE to drive forward the recommendations in the report and help ensure young people across the country are benefiting from a purposeful and dynamic physical education.”
Click HERE to download the scoping report entitled ‘Scoping the Potential of Physical Education (PE) as a Core Subject: Challenges, Opportunities and Need for Support’.
|
Email to a Friend
