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Original poster

PE GCSE - rewards kids for just being naturally sporty?

163 replies

mids2019 · 09/09/2025 07:22

My daughter is taking GCSE PE and I have to say looking at assessment I wonder if it is quite fair to rate on sport skills when some children are naturally good at sport and to a large extent skill and ability are determined by such things as hand eye coordination. Also if you have say a visual impairment I don't see how think can be fairly accounts d for in terms of assemsent.

Has anyone got children doing GCSE PE and is it a fair exam with the ability to score a high grade without just being innately good at sport. Seems to me if you are lacking for what ever reason you can't just work harder to be Messi or Emma Raducanu!

OP posts:
ARichtGoodDram · 09/09/2025 07:35

mids2019 · 09/09/2025 07:31

Interesting there is a large written component which seems fair for an academic subject. I suppose maybe it's a deeper discussion but Glenwood want GCSEs surely to allow hard work, organisation and dedication to allow for high grades. I have monocular vision and can't catch a ball for love or money so how could I be assessed in such a GCSE? How do you couple physical disabilities and inclhsvity with a GCSE which seems at least superficially exclusive?

You could say the same about Maths for someone with discalculia.

Not every GCSE is easy, or even possible, for everyone. Nor should it necessarily be - they're an indication of someone's skill in a particular subject.

My youngest child has such a level of disability that she will gain no GCSE's, regardless of how much effort, but that absolutely doesn't mean subjects should be lowered to her ability level for every child.

Original poster
mids2019 · 09/09/2025 07:31

Interesting there is a large written component which seems fair for an academic subject. I suppose maybe it's a deeper discussion but Glenwood want GCSEs surely to allow hard work, organisation and dedication to allow for high grades. I have monocular vision and can't catch a ball for love or money so how could I be assessed in such a GCSE? How do you couple physical disabilities and inclhsvity with a GCSE which seems at least superficially exclusive?

OP posts:
GagMeWithASpoon · 09/09/2025 07:31

You could say the same about Art, Music, Languages. An affinity for these subjects will give a child an advantage over the average kids(not necessarily impaired in some way). To a certain degree even Maths and English.

DancingNotDrowning · 09/09/2025 07:30

This is such a bizarre position.

All exams reward participants who are naturally talented in the area of examination whether it be maths, french, art or music. PE is certainly no different.

your post actually highlights a massive issue with the education system: the assumption that everyone starts from a level playing field and that exam results are predicated on effort and hard work. They’re not.

clary · 09/09/2025 07:29

Yes as others say, that's true of any subject.
Actually PE GCSE looks at improvement which is always possible. Absolutely no need to be a elite sportsperson to gain a top grade.

ThingsgetbetterwithalittlebitofRazzmatazz · 09/09/2025 07:28

I've no experience of gcse pe but surely it's the same for must subjects. Gcse music was easy for me back in the day. Some kids just "get" maths without having to work at it. Some have talents in art, drama, languages. If you are already working at gcse level at something as its your hobby or talent then it is obviously going to be easier to get a good grade.

parrotonmyshoulder · 09/09/2025 07:27

Art, music, drama. Yes, easier to do well if talented, but not the only factor!

Original poster
mids2019 · 09/09/2025 07:27

Inter what you are saying but you can improve maths with practise and dedication.

Sport on the other hand is more innate but granted there are maths geniuses that also have innate ability.

OP posts:
MumChp · 09/09/2025 07:27

ARichtGoodDram · 09/09/2025 07:26

I don't see PE as being any different to say Art. One of my DDs slept walked her way through her Art course as it comes to her naturally, her twin couldn't have passed had she spent 24/7 working on it.

Or music.

NevilleBigBottom · 09/09/2025 07:27

It’s more written/theory than practical.

ARichtGoodDram · 09/09/2025 07:26

I don't see PE as being any different to say Art. One of my DDs slept walked her way through her Art course as it comes to her naturally, her twin couldn't have passed had she spent 24/7 working on it.

Candleabra · 09/09/2025 07:26

You might as well say gcse maths rewards people who are great at mathematics. We all have our different strengths.

AutumnLeavesAndCoolerDays · 09/09/2025 07:26

Isn’t that the same for all subjects? My kids didn’t do PE at GCSE, as they’re not naturally good at sports, but they were naturally good at maths and that gave them a clear advantage in that subject, a subject all the kids have to take whether they want to or are good at it.