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Original poster

Is failing PE in KS2 a problem ?

121 replies

FailingatPE · 29/09/2017 18:45

My 9yo DS last year report from school had great scores for all subjects for achievement and effort except a single fail for PE.

As we get the reports on the last day of the year before summer, I didn't have chance to talk to the teacher and tbh I assumed it must of been an error. After all how can you fail at PE ?

However caught up with the teacher today, who said it wasn't an error. Despite good effect he failed.

I asked for more specific and I was told that he found catching and throwing a ball hard. Didn't concentrate or do teams properly. Specifically said he wasn't cut out for competitive sports and he should try archery !

Also cautioned against joining football teams at school, as the other boys are so much better than him.

I am torn between saying sod it, it is only PE, worrying or signing him up for loads of sporting things.

OP posts:
queenofthedump · 29/09/2017 18:50

I'm also stumped by the concept of anyone 'failing' at PE and quite shocked that any school would a) put that on a report and b) be so discouraging about a 9yo's future participation in sport based on their ability.
I would be seriously considering moving my child to a different school if this was my dc's school.

ILoveMillhousesDad · 29/09/2017 18:53

Ridiculous.

Some people my not be sporty, but surely as long as they are making the effort, they can't 'fail' P.E!!

Shit like this puts kids off and gives them a lifelong hatred.

thecatfromjapan · 29/09/2017 18:53

'Failed' at PE????

That is so grim, for so many reasons. Surely PE lessons should be inclusive? It's all round the wrong way if you and your ds see him as 'failing'. Sad

grannytomine · 29/09/2017 18:55

I'd say sod it, and one of mine is a PE teacher and was in every team going when he was at school. When I think of the hours of my life that were spent sitting at football matches, rugby matches, cricket matches (longest of all), swimming galas and so on and so on!

IdaDown · 29/09/2017 19:01

What would happen if you're dyspraxic or other physical/mobility issues?

Ridiculous.

I would ask why they can't grade on improving skills. Or why the school can't offer something else - accommodations.

Yes I would take it up with them - would the school be allowed to fail DS in any other subject without giving DS a chance to improve or warning you?

Sport isn't just about the elite - it should be about fostering a love of exercise/a sense of achievement and others company.

Smartiepants79 · 29/09/2017 19:01

Is this a ordinary state school?? Does it actually say 'failed' or does it say 'working towards' or similar?? Very surprised if it say failed at this age. If it's private are they taught by 'specialists'??
I would completely ignore if I was you as far as my child was concerned. I'd keep encouraging him to try new sports etc but one teachers opinion wouldn't be making me change the choices I made for my child ( and I'm a teacher).
What the teacher has said is not very professional and rather odd.

Original poster
FailingatPE · 29/09/2017 19:16

Ordinary school.

The fail is classed as 'under year group expectations'

When I said I was surprised that any child who made an effort could fail PE. The teacher said they were not going to lie to me !

It does upset my son and it upsets me that they can fail him and not offer any support to help him improve.

OP posts:
Glumglowworm · 29/09/2017 19:23

I'm shocked that PE is graded at all!

I'd be curious to know if he improved his concentration and team work, would he pass even if his physical skills were the same? Because he can control those things whereas physical co-ordination is harder for a lot of people.

Princessdebthe1st · 29/09/2017 19:33

Dear OP,
If the teacher said he was so poor at maths that he shouldn't bother aspiring to be better would you find that acceptable? PE is part of the National Curriculum and if a child is struggling to meet age related expectations I would want to know what the school are going to do about it. I would make an appointment with the head of year/KS2 and ask them precisely that. Also feedback to them that giving reports on the last day of term is very poor practice as it gives no opportunity for questions to be answered or concerns to be addressed.

Original poster
FailingatPE · 29/09/2017 19:33

He is super bright to but no confidence and this has knocked him further back. :(

OP posts:
Original poster
FailingatPE · 29/09/2017 19:37

The teacher was not best pleased at talking to me. I asked if the teacher would send me a list of what my son has to learn and we would work down it. But I don't think I will get one.

I don't want to bother them. But I don't want failing PE marks in every report until he leaves.

OP posts:
Tanaqui · 29/09/2017 19:38

That's not a fail- it's just a statement. Many children will sadly be below expectations in maths, or English. Hopefully both the school and their parents will try to help them, and both the school and you should try and help your son. Otoh, he may never reach an average "age expectation" standard in PE/ he may be dyspraxic, or just not very good at it! Not all children can teach the age expected standard at everything, so it is Not a fail- just a chance to support him more.

QueenofLouisiana · 29/09/2017 19:40

Did it say "failed" or "not working at expected standard"? I'd say there was a big difference!

I'd look for a sport he enjoys and is good at- archery may have sounded flippant but he may be great at it! DS is pretty awful at football, disinterested in cricket/ athletics/ tennis. Hates dance.

However, he swims at regional level and is a totally different child in the pool. His school was astonished when this "mediocre" PE student thrashed all their top performers in the swimming competition.

What sport would your DS like to try?

TeenTimesTwo · 29/09/2017 19:46

'Under year group expectations' is not 'fail' it just means your DS is not where they might expect a 9yo.

One of my DDs has Dyspraxia, and the other DCD, both have motor skills bottom 1%. My DDs don't care about sport, so we have never really bothered, apart from helping DD1 learn how to skip (with a rope) when she was 9 as she was getting left out at playtime. We have made sure both can ride a bike though neither is really confident like their peers.

If he doesn't mind then it doesn't matter. If he really cares, then putting in practice he will improve. But it is not like it is reading or maths. Just focus on the 'effort' grade - as long as he tries, that is the main thing.

Lala241280 · 29/09/2017 19:47

Why are so many surprised PE is graded
It's an important subject just like Maths English

Yeah a bit harsh saying a 9 year old has failed though

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 29/09/2017 19:52

I’m confused about archery being considered non-competitive!

But more to the point, I don’t think it’s important unless your DS is frustrated about not being as good as some of the other children. As long as he keeps active, I'd be satisfied with that. Simple activities like going for bike rides or hikes could be a way of maintaining fitness.

I’m not sure that the teacher has seen your DS in action in enough sports to make such a blanket statement anyway.

Was this teacher a male primary school PE specialist by any chance?

If they are going to say 'fail', they definitely ought to have a plan of action to improve matters.

ErrolTheDragon · 29/09/2017 19:56

Yeah, its a problem if any kid 'fails' PE - the school must be doing PE wrong.

Spottytop1 · 29/09/2017 19:57

Not an issue at all and won't impact anything ( unless your child really wants to be a sports professional) as all
It means is the skills presented are not as someone at a desk has decided a child at that age should be able to do.

Smurfy23 · 29/09/2017 19:58

If he is performing "under year group expectations" then there has to be a set criteria that he is being graded against. I would pester the teacher until you get it and then work with DS at home in as fun a way as you can to improve. Ordinarily Id say dobt bother but if DS is upset and lacks in confidence Id want to nip that in the bud before it turns into a lifetimes apathy towards exercise. Cant believe teacher told you not to bother with football etc. Thats ridiculous. If theyre going to treat PE as an important subject then you spend extra time on it like you would English/Maths not just give up.

InfiniteCurve · 29/09/2017 20:07

Well,why bother with football if you aren't good at it?Unless you live it,in which case fair enough.
It's a game.And exercise - which you can get in many other ways.
DD is dyspraxic,so never did well in school sport.She did do trampolining though,and loved that,she wasn't competitive standard but she wasn't awful either.
We as a family were never worried about PE though,expected them to try and not to mess about,but apart from that - not bothered...

JustHope · 29/09/2017 20:13

If you are taking PE as a GCSE subject then yes it’s an issue but surely PE in primary school is just about being active and enjoying sport.

sadiemm2 · 29/09/2017 21:39

Find something he enjoys, and do that. You don't have to be good at it. I'm crap at yoga, but I enjoy it, and it helps my health condition.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 29/09/2017 21:55

I definitely wouldn't have met any age related expectations in PE. In itself it doesn't matter as in it's an optional subject for formal qualifications, and the number of people maintaining the usual range of school sports into adulthood is pretty low.

However, sport can be useful socially. Finding enjoyable physical activity to continue into adulthood is also important for good health. The tone of the feedback is quite defeatist which is disappointing.

Poor performance at sport in youth doesn't necessarily persist into adulthood. I got the hang of swimming at 16, riding a bike at 19 and running in my 30s. I can even catch and hit a ball with some hope of accuracy now I don't have PE teachers and goady peers watching over me Wink

The good thing about PE is that there's many opportunities to find your own interest outside school. There's a lot of transferable skills too. DS1 isn't the most coordinated, so he does gymnastics which I see as a useful foundation for a range of other sports in the long term. He's also doing a football club because football can often be socially useful amongst boys. I just want him to not be a liability and the one who's rejected and last resort on a team like I was. Anything else is a bonus. (And there I am feeling smug at running half marathons after all those years of "lapped you, lapped you twice!"

Flopjustwantscoffee · 29/09/2017 22:21

I got an A for effort and E for achievement in my report for PE when I was eleven. Happy days... can't say it has massively impacted my life now

ineedamoreadultieradult · 29/09/2017 22:27

Firstly he is not failing at PE these are your words not the teachers. Under year group expectations is just exactly that. Some kids will be under expectations for maths some won't but none of them are failing.
Also did you not vet the report before letting DS read it? If he is upset it is because you allowed him to read a document which is meant for you not him.

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