School PE

[Feellikedancingyeah]

Yes it's trivial but AIBU to be annoyed I've been told on Friday evening that the kids will be travelling to school in their PE kit on PE day and staying in it all day? This means I've had to order another pair of trainers for Monday. Managed to find some trail running ones with a grip sole and water resistance. His feet would be soaked if travelling in his usual PE trainers. His school shoes keep his feet dry but ordinary trainers won't. PE is first lesson so if they get wet through outside they will be sat in lessons in wet PE kit all day

The all-day in PE kit is a reasonable accommodation given what the school are trying to achieve.

The short notice is atrocious.

It is, though depressingly normal for schools. You would think after all the complaining that members of the teaching profession have done over the government’s atrocious communication of CV related policy and guidelines for schools that they would finally realise how unreasonable last minute notification is.

Glad to hear it’s not all schools that are like this but would love to have actually sent my kids to one of them.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

It's crazy. Surely PE could be put on hold for now and they could focus on the actual education they've all missed?

Yes, yes lots of obese kids but that is down to some parents feeding them shit and driving them the 15mins walk to school rather than encourage a healthy lifestyle. An hour freezing on a football pitch once a week won’t make a blind bit of difference to that. Why should kids sit in sweaty tops and baggy shorts all day?!

It's not just obese kids, though, that have suffered.

The very slight children have come back with absolutely no muscle tone or stamina, either. They're struggling to walk, they're out of breath going upstairs, they're struggling to sit upright, I can see so many of them over pronating because there's no lower leg strength. And others have lost functional flexibility and developed postural issues, going by the anterior pelvic tilts, uneven shoulders, scapular winging and difficulty picking things up that they've dropped. And considering that they won't even get the same amount of exercise in walking around site anymore as they're limited to one room for most lessons, they're in a worse position than previously.

We've got a full programme of activities that will appeal to the kids - lots of dance, for a start, as that's something more likely to lift mood than running round the field in the cold, improve flexibility and strength. Other activities will start up once they are used to being more active again.

'We've got a full programme of activities that will appeal to the kids - lots of dance, for a start, as that's something more likely to lift mood than running round the field in the cold, improve flexibility and strength'

Sounds great, I wish you were the PE teacher at our school. Teens love fitness and dance, most girls seem to loathe rugby and football, why are they made to do it in some schools?! It sets them up for a lifetime of hating keeping fit.

Is this primary or secondary? Our primary had had all day in PE kits for at least three years, none of mine have complained about wet feet and their trainers were all the mesh type.

Having said that - my two older boys have just started secondary so I suspect there will more sport on grass which might cause issues.

The very slight children have come back with absolutely no muscle tone or stamina, either. They're struggling to walk, they're out of breath going upstairs, they're struggling to sit upright, I can see so many of them over pronating because there's no lower leg strength. And others have lost functional flexibility and developed postural issues, going by the anterior pelvic tilts, uneven shoulders, scapular winging and difficulty picking things up that they've dropped

Must admit, this has been a concern for me - weighed my three and they’re right in the middle for BMI but the 15 mins walk to school is already causing moaning.

I have noticed my 15 yr ds has ached after PE so must need to improve his fitness. Presumably not as fit as before. Can only help them plus good for stress.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'We've got a full programme of activities that will appeal to the kids - lots of dance, for a start, as that's something more likely to lift mood than running round the field in the cold, improve flexibility and strength'

Sounds great, I wish you were the PE teacher at our school. Teens love fitness and dance, most girls seem to loathe rugby and football, why are they made to do it in some schools?! It sets them up for a lifetime of hating keeping fit.

This place has a huge variety of activities all the time.

We can't do all of them this year, but encouraging and widening participation is the whole point - from the massively popular Lacrosse and Rugby squads (sorry, they just are) to the basketball, netball, dance, trampolining, yoga, running and compulsory Ski Fit to reduce potential injuries and increase enjoyment for those going on the yearly trip - PE were the only department to offer 15+ activities outside lesson times every week.

I think it's important that PE is made more pleasant and accessible - explain why a five pound pair of trainers isn't good (and have access to funds for those who can't afford more than that), explain why a sports bra is important, make trackies and a comfortable jacket not just acceptable uniform, make it affordable uniform. Make the tops ones that dry quickly and don't rub, chafe or shrink. Spot the mechanical/physical issues kids have, talk to parents where you've seen something, emphasize what the benefits are. Allow them to drink water or stop when an ankle doesn't feel right or there's a weird clunking feeling in a shoulder, FFS.

And most of all, don't inflict Bleep Tests on them every couple of weeks. Nobody wants to start high school PE being beasted until they feel sick on their second day, as it puts them off permanently.

I despised PE at school with the exception of Hockey (and even then I was far more enthusiastic about indoor hockey - well, hello - a roof, no snow or rabbit holes AND central heating!). When they eventually got approval to build a gym, you couldn't keep me out of it. That was as much of a surprise to me as it was for the staff, as I'd spent four years almost permanently with a period, with bandages and tubigrips and doctors' notes to get me out of any activity for all but the hockey season. When I didn't have a music lesson and never turned up at all, that is.

I've gone to gyms even though I'm a fat bastard for the majority of my life since then; the only reason I don't right now is that I had to stop during a Psoriatic Arthritis flare and now that's easing, I'm not paying the same fees for 30 minutes pre booked a fortnight in advance, if I can even get a slot, that is, then walking home with wet or sweaty clothes as I would for an entire morning or evening finished off with a sauna, steam room, shower and drying my hair.

Nobody is going to enjoy everything. But there's nothing to be gained from everybody other than 2-3 super sporty kids hating it.

DS had PE yesterday, but it was apparently too wet to go outside so they stayed in and did bingo. It wasn't even raining! Literally maybe a tiny bit of drizzle for a few minutes, and they cancelled the whole 2 hour slot. They told them Year 8, that they wouldn't be able to do PE if it was raining as they couldn't sit in wet clothes. Even though it was the last 2 classes before home. I feel sorry for the kids. DS looks forward to PE all week and just has the one slot. They have a beautiful all weather astro pitch just waiting to be used but wouldn't let them on it. It's a shame.

I'm in Ireland where this is the norm...children here don't get changed in school for PE. They wear the tracksuit on PE day! I can't imagine the amount of time that gets wasted waiting for a class of 20+ children to change!! Where on earth do they actually get changed anyway?!

I believe it's in the recommendation. Most schools I heard about are having the children travel and stay in PE kit on games days

You are being dramatic op

Our school has a huge dome thing to do sports in though they hardly ever do pe outside

My kids school has done this for 2 years Don’t know why it’s so controversial?

DS just started reception. They have PE twice a week - one day outdoor and one indoor. The set-up is that on outdoor days they wear PE sweatshirts, t-shirts, joggers and trainers all day, which is perfectly sensible. On indoor PE days they're expected to wear the same, but with PE shorts under their joggers. Then they'll take off their PE sweatshirts, joggers, socks and trainers and do the lesson in shorts, t-shirt and bare feet. So I wonder why they couldn't just wear their regular uniform that day, with shorts and t-shirt beneath?