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].

Horse riding or dog walking would have had me first in line instead of hiding in the school toilets on sports day. Hated sports then and still hate them now. I'm 55

I think something like zumba or disco aerobics would be fun... it wouldn't have to cost anything, just put a fitness dvd on 🤷‍♀️ I would have much preferred something like that to running round a bloody field!

At least they are less likely to get injured 😃

Well, you'd think that, but it's often the prats that don't know what they are doing that are more dangerous!

There is another thread currently going following an issue with a PE teacher and rainy weather- you may have seen it on AIBU.

I'd say unless you have seen a broad range of PE departments, your assumption that they all just teach traditional sports, outside in the cold etc will be incorrect.

Obviously cost and facilities are a huge factor. At my school and we have one hall (not a full sized sports hall that you could possibly share between two classes). On some occasions I've had 5 classes on all at the same time ranging from older to younger ages, meaning I can't even put them all in the hall together on a rainy day as it would be truly unsafe - imagine 16yr olds and 11yr olds playing sports together... Not happening! Fortunately the senior leadership team haven't put us in this situation again but 3 classes on at once, of the same age, is normal. If it rains, we have very limited options for the 90+ children and 3 staff in a small hall.

What I do ensure happens in my school is that children have a complete say over their sports. We offer cheerleading, yoga, Tchoukball, VX, American Football, fitness (e.g. Body Combat, Zumba), team building, softball etc. Groups have rotations where they are allocated indoors or outdoors so have plenty of notice if they need a coat for drizzly or cold weather. In heavier rain we go inside and children pick between some sports that can be done in big groups.

If we can purchase the equipment, we will put it on their curriculum. We invest the tiny department money on ensuring children have the best experience but we certainly can't afford anything near the sports you have suggested, no matter how much of a lovely idea that might be. If I dared to take children out of school it must be out of lesson time, meaning all your suggestions that can't be done on site would be clubs and therefore only target those who could afford to pay the prices.

I much prefer a model where children select what they want to learn (we use an online survey), pick clubs to go to and have equal opportunities to be in any teams. There are schools that do this- I didn't invent the idea otherwise I'd be much richer 🤣

Rather than streaming - offer a choice: team sport (eg football), non-competitive (eg running), endurance (eg circuit training), creative (eg dance) and lower impact (eg yoga).

Something for all types of kids.

The focus on team sport is ridiculous. I hate them, always have. But I loved running in a non competitive way, totally useless for school.

But they need X number of players for team Sports, and the focus is on those children who shine in them. The rest of the class is there to make up number IMO.

Not helped by PE teachers who bitch about students. I worked in a high school and in the staff room a group of PE teachers were laughing derisively about a tall, uncoordinated boy with severe asthma. Yes I reamed them out - how dare they - and I pointed out that the boy in question would know that they held him in contempt, that kind of thing leaks out. And teachers like them are the reason I hated PE and struggled to find exercise I enjoyed for the next 30 years and counting.

Nothing seems to have changed in 40 years. Needs a complete overhaul.

"I don't remember anyone having an issue with changing or showers when we did PE in 80s. You would have been considered height of disgusting human being if you didn't shower after PE, though. I'm athletically declined, btw. Slowest runner in the class, etc."

I was at secondary in the 90s and we NEVER showered. The idea of communal showering was seen as utterly horrific. I'm sure some girls were pretty stinky as a result, though not me as I loathed school sport and lurked at the back doing as little as possible

Firstly, let them wear what they're comfortable in, and suitable for sports- so basically a tracksuit/ jogging bottoms and t-shirt in the school colours for example or leggings. NOT hideous leotards and the like unless kids really want to wear them.
Secondly, traditional sports are fine for the sporty kids who want to be in school teams etc. Why not just allow some choice amongst the others? It doesn't have to be expensive and maybe let the kids vote on it each term/ half term. Basketball for instance, volleyball, badminton etc
I think the first point is the most important thing though. Still feel chilled at the memory of hateful gym knickers (and was put off sport for life by my secondary school). Not exactly helpful.

My dd is a non sporty child and was at a school that did streaming for pe of which she was in top set with sporty kids as she got good grades in the academic tests , she hated it with a passion she would have liked to do yoga / hockey or even just dance games rather than football /netball , despite her lack of sport she is pretty fit as she walks 45 mins each way to school and walks miles in her job as a online picker on a weekend and goes for bike rides

I’m 65 and hated secondary pe with a passion. The teachers were only interested in those who were going to make the teams and the humiliating showering, still makes me shudder. Getting dressed in a hurry and getting told off by the next teacher for being late.
I have better memories of fun and games and country dancing 1960’s style in primary though.
I tried very hard in my 40 years of infant teaching to make sure pe was fun!
Somehow I managed to have 3 boys who loved sport both in and out of school and 2 of them took the subject at a level. However, the local football and cricket clubs probably have them a better grounding.

I work in a secondary school for children with ASD. Our PE curriculum includes
Table tennis
Swingball
Frisbee
Ice skating
Velcro catch
Rock climbing
Quoits
Gym cardio machines
Circus skills
Archery
Playing fetch with the dog
Yoga
Tree climbing
Den building
Trampolining (on site and off site)
Boules
Molki
Cycling
Playing in a stream

OFSTED was more than happy with it and most of it isn't very expensive

@IronicElf completely unprofessional and give PE teachers a bad name. I hope you reported it to a line manager. We need to get rid of teachers like this. I know so many (and I mean absolutely loads) of fantastic PE teachers who truly want the best for the children. Ironically, it's so hard to get PE jobs because there are more teachers than positions so to hear there are staff like that is so frustrating.

Is the Head of PE like it? Maybe it's a culture thing they've allowed to happen in their department. Totally unacceptable and I'd be giving anyone in my team a warning for comments like that. Well done for telling them!

I almost forgot - Wii fit and Just Dance

Quite a few comments about the costs involved. DC1's school buses pupils to out of town sports facilities twice a week at huge expense, where PE is taken in huge groups; 3 or 4 tutor groups at once. There are halls and some changing / shower facilities at DC1's school, I think smaller groups doing PE would be great; just 40 mins yoga with your tutor group once a week. Lovely. I was thinking a bit widely with my suggestions, but can see that others have suggested cheap and accessible activities too. I'm confident that DC1's inner city comp could probably save loads on coaches and equip a small gym with machines for 20-30 Pupils taking turns. A small amount of additional staff training required.

@GingerScienceFreak this sounds amazing. I'd love to know how it's all funded? Are any children Year 6 or under so get the PE and Sport Premium money?

For context, I've worked in a few schools between training and now (nearly 15 years). They all got around £2k for the PE budget to include everything - paper, pens, text books, sports equipment, bibs, cones, staff training etc. We'd never have near enough to do some of those activities, especially with the amount of equipment that doesn't survive the year. I'd love to know where all the tennis balls go 🤣

Another person who hated PE at school. But it was over 30 years ago and I'm pretty sure it was the way it was taught that was the real problem. I hope some of the things that happened back then have been stopped now.
Like compulsory communal showers, and the most sporty, popular kids picking the teams (I was always last to be picked even for sports I was quite good at, because I wasn't part of their 'crowd'). Teachers choosing their favourites for the best positions in teams meaning the same people got to shine each week while everyone else felt bad. Teachers generally seeming to take great satisfaction from publicly telling kids how useless they were.
I'd hope these practices have stopped.
Even so though, there's no need for so much competitive sport and they should concentrate more on building fitness. I'm pretty sure standing on one of the outer positions in a team sport where the action never comes near, does nothing at all for fitness!

There's definitely more that can be done without spending crazy money. My 14 year old's favourite PE lessons are when they put on YouTube videos of Just Dance (free). Absolutely hates team ball sports. Tolerates trampolining and gymnastics.

As said above there should be non competitive options to enjoy exercise. Encouraging gentle running etc rather than racing.

Yanbu. I think the head of my kids primary agrees, their reception pe classes involved yoga and dance, and their first pe class in year one sounds like it was a zumbaesque dance class. Which I think sounds great fun.

Something needs to be done because while PE suits half the kids, it leaves the other half miserable, depressed, humiliated, school-refusing or in a few worse cases, suicidal.

The problems are body image, lack of privacy, inappropriate sports kit and the relentlessly competitive nature of every activity that belittles smaller weaker children. Change is long overdue but there's no money available. It's horrible to watch.

I remember hating PE and it seems not a whole lot has changed. Nobody ever actually taught us anything, it was ‘get out and play netball’ while being screamed at when you got things wrong. The teachers never explained any rules or techniques. When doing things like athletics it was ‘go and run around that field 5 times’ - no teaching about pacing or breathing or stride.

I remember one year we could pick and we did aerobics, it was brilliant. More competitive children did football or hockey while the rest did the aerobics.

So what if some kid feels bad because they were picked last for a team? That kid might well be top of the class in English or maths. You win some, you lose some. That’s life.

We did gymnastics and dance in year 7 which I loved. But year 8+ had a focus on team sport and athletics, which I hated. It wasn't until 6th form (PE remained compulsory for us) that I got to go rock.climbing as my PE session and absolutely loved it.

So yes, there really should be more choice.

I agree secondary PE is geared towards those naturally talented at sport.
I'm a primary teacher and we've just taken on a new PE scheme which looks amazing and is basically a completely different approach to PE and is all about developing themselves and challenging themselves as opposed to comparing to other people and is about praising the effort not the achievement. Even before this whenever doing anything competitive I'd always set up two versions of the game and children could choose the competitive or less completive game. That had a massive impact on everyone's enjoyment

Ginger, that's great, and really doable.
Sprouts, thanks for your insights. A relative's DC attends a school which does parkour, basically setting up huge obstacle courses with benches, mats, ropes, horses, trampolines etc in their hall -brilliant! Choices seems to be the way to give students a sense of autonomy.