To think that PE could be reconsidered in order to be a more meaningful and enjoyable experience for secondary aged pupils (and primary too!)?

[EveSix]

This week, I'm hearing so many of DC1's school friends and parents express their frustration with the experience of PE in school (secondary age in our case, across several schools, two counties / local education authorities). So many pupils seem to loath it and struggle to participate with any real sense of enthusiasm or enjoyment.

In DC1's friendship group, PE gives rise to lots of anxiety about changing bodies and comparison; nobody seems to feel better for a stint on the field. I'm an active adult now and love physical exercise on my own terms, but remember feeling very much like DC1's friends when I went to school.

Looking at the National Curriculum for PE (KS3 copied in below), I can't help but to feel as if there could be another way of teaching young people to actually enjoy physical activity and feel good and safe in their bodies. There are so many ways to be active, and some of them, if approached sensitively and creatively, would be bound to appeal to kids who don't feel there is a place for them in PE lessons at the moment.

Across the schools I know, there seems to be a big focus on competitive team sports and track, which just isn't going to be everyone's idea of fun. I'm sure many more pupils with SEN and anxiety are exempt from PE than geography or food tech because it's can be such a high stress environment. When I exercise, I'm definitely not looking for a stressy time.

Does anyone care to join me in musing on what alternative provision and activities might be enjoyed more broadly if made available?
If you didn't like PE the way it was taught at your secondary school, is there an activity you think you might have enjoyed? Or perhaps a different approach to teaching PE altogether? Contributions from DC welcome!

YABU: young people just need to crack on with it; PE is character-building

YANBU: PE could be made more enjoyable and relevant to a wider range of pupils

My suggestions would be (some might involve travel to facilities not within easy walking distance):
Yoga
Pilates
Nordic walking
Mindfulness walking
Archery
Fencing
Badminton
Table tennis
Rollerskating
Ice skating (DC1's school is in spitting distance of an ice skating rink, for instance)
Gym sessions for cardio (exercise bikes, treadmills, rowing machines etc) and free weights

I am convinced that if I'd had the experience of learning to enjoy a range of physical activities that made me feel good about myself in a relaxed environment during OR lessons, I would have been happier in general at school.

Here's the the first part if the PE Programme of Study for KS3:

Purpose of study
A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness.

Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.

Aims
The national curriculum for physical education aims to ensure that all pupils:
 develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
 are physically active for sustained periods of time
 engage in competitive sports and activities
 lead healthy, active lives.
Attainment targets
By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study.
Schools are not required by law to teach the example content in [square brackets].

@DorotheaDiamond you should get a physio to do a proper gait analysis of your daughter, there might be some sort of mechanical issue. We noticed DS walked and ran in a funny way when he was little so got a physio friend to do a gait analysis. Turned out he needed an operation to re-align his hip joints.

So what would people prefer PE lessons to look like for their children? Don't hark back at awful days shivering in a corner of a field while the robust kids smacked hockey balls at you (awful as that must have been for those it happened to). But realistically, knowing your children's schools and resources.

Also realistically knowing that some kids really do need to take more exercise, not just the sporty ones having fun.

A basic introduction to various sports - so not too much time spent on a sport but enough to give children a taster and learn the basic rules and skills so they know if they might like the sport or not to pursue it in school or out of school clubs but not, for example, a whole term spent on football which will make some children happy but be hell for others.
Some time spent on non-competitive things like step aerobics (I remember that being fun the few times we did it in secondary school), weight training (learning how to use machines safely), perhaps things like yoga or pilates or whatever that don't require a lot of extra money.
Learning the importance of fitness and how to incorporate it into daily life, and how to warm up and cool down properly.
Some time spent on track and field
If possible, some time for optional activities so children can pick out of a list of a few options what they will like to do and split into groups to do them.
Swimming including water safety/basic life saving/coping if you fall into deep water fully dressed

So what would people prefer PE lessons to look like for their children?
More variety, and some choice.
Logistically that's more difficult but not impossible or necessarily very expensive. Schools should link with local coaches and clubs to try to bring different activities into schools. Plenty of minority sports clubs would be willing to run some free sessions as they stand to benefit too, by attracting new members. I know quite a few clubs who do this. They're qualified coaches, DBS checked etc so whilst there is a bit of red tape to get through its not impossible.
I'm not advocating the removal of traditional team sports, just making them less the main focus of school sports. Those who are really good at them don't actually benefit that much from doing them in standard PE lessons anyway - the school teams train after school and most play for outside clubs - so I don't think it would be depriving the pupils who are good at them. My DS actively avoids doing the sport he plays for the county as much as possible at school in fact. I'd prefer to see more "tasters"of different activities and signposting pupils to clubs, classes etc outside school if they get the bug.
More indoor exercise would also be good. We're in the frozen (well, more often soaking) North, and getting freezing cold and wet does put lots of people off outdoor activities in the Winter. When our school offered Zumba as an option for half a term one Winter they were almost trampled in the rush! OK, the kids picked it initially because they didn't want to go out in the bad weather but lots of them actually really enjoyed it, and a number of my DD's friends signed up for regular classes.
Uniform needs to be relaxed. My DS is seriously sporty and has an athletic build and even he hates his school PE kit with it's teeny short shorts and tight top. How much worse is that for a kid who is overweight or a girl who has developed breasts earlier than most? Most sports can be performed perfectly adequately in tracksuit bottoms or leggings and a t shirt. People who feel more comfortable and less self conscious are likely to have more fun and get more active. Sure, have a school team kit available for those who do competitions but the world will not end if regular classes are done in non standard kit. Give a choice - any black leggings or black shorts for instance, so individuals can pick whatever they are more comfortable in. That would cost absolutely nothing but quite possibly make a difference.

Schools should link with local coaches and clubs to try to bring different activities into schools.

Local clubs and coaches are run by volunteers. So how does that work? And during the day when these people are at their day jobs?

You realise most local clubs have free taster sessions yes?

God for is parents so this in their own time.

*forbid

I’d prefer to see more "tasters"of different activities and signposting pupils to clubs, classes etc outside school if they get the bug

It’s not a bloody spa.
It’s school!
You go and source taster sessions ans take your kid along.
How on earth is this an acceptable curriculum subject?

There needs to be measurable targets which are reflected in the year end grade and progress. How the heck can you do this with your suggested PE lessons (which are no longer lessons really are they?).

Why are PE teachers allowed to not know the basics of spotting physical issues?

Because they are not trained clinicians in this age and it is not their job.

They are teachers - trained to teach.

Anything else you’d like them to do?

Spot and diagnose a condition!
Perhaps then provide free physio (they can train in that too) - after school in their free time, when all team sports have been cancelled because ‘it’s just not fair’

God! I bloody despair.

@Quincythequince surely a compromise would be to not have PE as a lesson but make it requirement that students sign up to a physical activity of their choice outside of school. this would at least broaden the range of exercises on offer and students can then pick one they like or at least see as the lesser evil given what is available.

What guarantee would you have that these pupils will do this?

None.

Many just won’t bother.

Even one session a week is bette than none.

And again, why can’t they just do this anyway. It’s not an either or situation.

@Quincythequince have it run by the school and the kids have to sign up, have it a case that instructors signatures are needed. there are ways to ensure it.

When DCs were younger we took them to Sportscoach (it's the sports version of Stagecoach) and they did exactly this. Every 3-hour session consisted of 3 x 45-minutes of different activities, ranging from archery to rounders, obstacle races to indoor hockey and British bulldog to tai kwon do.

It gave the DCs a fabulous taste of a vast range of sports and physical activities and they could learn which they preferred. No idea if it still exists (Covid might have finished it off), but if it does I highly recommend it.

@Quincythequince as to why not both because for many this would the preferred option where they are not jeered or heckled at by fellow students. I do not see how boys targeting the same girl with a volleyball over and over to score easy points (not me but close friend), or being made to felt an idiot by the patronising remarks such as "the ball goes into the hoop/net" (and these are the kinder comments by the way) as if that is not understood just a lack of being able to aim etc would be helpful for anyone

Who pay for external clubs?

What happens to PE teachers in this event?

They become obsolete?

And then all school sports just die because funding won’t be guaranteed for a teacher that isn’t actually teaching?

Both of these examples are bullying, which should not be tolerated of course.

@Quincythequince it is and in my experience all my PE teachers have done fuck all about it and it was even up to one of the more confident sporty girls to yell at the boys to stop aiming the volleyball at specific players while the teachers did nothing

Yes. I'm quite aware of how local grassroots sport works thanks. I am on the committees of 3 such clubs, coach for 2 and am heavily involved in regional planning and event organisation for both children and adults.
Of course not every volunteer can "work" during the day, but quite a lot can and indeed already do in some places.

Always a non competitive solo option where the student can do as much or as little as they feel capable of. Whether that’s doing some simple body weight exercises, stretching using resistance bands, throwing a ball through a hoop, balance exercises, timing themselves walking laps of the field, etc. Then a group option for students who want to be competitive and play sports with others or work in teams.

Students know if they’re below average ability and will happily remove themselves from the group option if they feel they can’t perform at a certain level or if they think they might embarrass themselves or be bullied. Students who have their period would probably choose the solo option, as well as students who don’t feel 100% that day, students who struggle with their weight or fitness and those who struggle socially to interact in a group.

Those teachers are arseholes. And should be reported to the HT.

Yes, we’ll bow about we use paid teachers instead of relying on volunteers.

Proper Tory narrative this is.

*well how about (rather)

I'm not complaining, I'm just posting my opinion things could be better, and with limited resource.

We've all sat in meetings with people who don't want to allow discussion of possible improvements, they are very boring and negative, but I do think things could be vastly improved in PE.

Now this sounds like a good idea.