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].

I know. So many excuses on here!
And I am not speaking about children with established medical reasons for not being able to undertake exercise. That is of course completely different.

Tell your kid to go for a jog or a run, or a walk, or a swim. Go with them in fact. Why not?

How is telling someone to speed up criticising them, if they are moving at a snails pace.
Because it lacks understanding of why they’re going so slowly in the first place, and it fails to provide any support for the desired behaviour of speeding up.

The correct approach is to assess why is this person going so slowly? Are they able to speed up with appropriate support? If so, what support do I need to provide in order for them to be able to speed up?

well, @Dadaya you went to the bother of quoting my whole post and then wrote

Yelling “speed up” is not ok.

which is something i didn't write. I get it, nobody wants their kids to be upset, i didn't either.

But i do want them to stretch themselves, and reading a lot of the posts here i can't see who is going to teach their kids how to do that. They don't do it at home, and teachers are mean if they do it.

again for those who aren't understanding my point: stretching children is fine, bullying them is not

This is insane.

How to catch a ball?

Are we talking kids In secondary?

Diet and health IS part of PE nowadays. It is part of the GCSE curriculum!

As is sports psychology, history of sport etc.

It is not like it was when you went to school.

And LOL to wanting ropes out for some kids who can’t catch a ball?

Have you any idea of the strength/skill required to use a climbing rope properly?

If you can’t catch a ball, a climbing rope would be assessed as not being safe.

All these people making excuses for their unfit kids when you are the reason they are like this. It’s the kids I feel sorry for with the expectation for them that there is no accountability or desire to improve.
People make excuses for their thick kids all the time, when you are the reason they are like this. Because you don’t read to them or do maths activities at home. There is no accountability or desire to improve. Why aren’t you spending your evenings playing maths games with your kids at home? I do.

Interventions put in place to help them speed up? 😂 Go for a jog, or a brisk walk, daily, in your own time.
The teacher’s job is to assess the pupil and put a plan in place AT SCHOOL during lessons to progress their skills. Whether that’s maths or PE. It’s not the parents job to do it outside of school. And it’s not up to the kids to teach themselves either. Parents can help with homework, but the teacher has to set the homework.

again for those who aren't understanding my point: stretching children is fine, bullying them is not

Agree entirely. A general (non-specific wording) ‘get a move on/speed up’ whatever to a group of kids, is not bullying them at all!

Should they stand there silently and not say anything as the kids run by? Should they ignore the fact that some of clearly pissing about and not actually taking it seriously at all?

OP I agree with you. The focus on competitive sports in my secondary school served to reinforce my perception of myself as a sporting disaster, to feel embarrassed, ashamed and alienated (and to go home and comfort eat!).

Sports achievers were more often academic achievers and non sports achievers were more often less academically successful. I do think a negative sports experience affects overall school education.

Since my focus shifted from competing to supporting my physical and mental health and well-being, running has become part of my life. Couch 2 5k gradually taught me self belief and it built my self confidence. There is an emphasis on helping you to realise what you are capable of doing through your own personal progress which was lacking in school.

Unfortunately this is some forty years later and I wish this mindset could have been cultivated in school.

Could there be an option for children to choose either competitive sports, activities such as Pilates, dancing or running, or to choose from either options?

Maybe this would give everyone the chance to be seen to be achieving something in physical education.

It’s going to be a timetabling issue though isn’t it?

How can they do all this, in one class? They won’t have the manpower?

Why can’t parents encourage their kids to do this and give them more confidence that way?

Teachers, as we read here often, have massive amounts to do. The sports curriculum in the UK afaik is based at average ability and standards for what children should be able to do. The curriculum and lessons are pitched at that level.

If there are SN or other reasons why the children can't do what the other kids do then there needs to be a discussion with the school about how their PE needs can be met. It should not, as ever at schools, be to the detriment of all other kids in the class. (ie. no races because Tarquin can't run and it's unfair). At the same time, as with the maths analogy, it is also up to the child and the parents to work on it outside of school so they can take part as much as possible.

If the only reason they can't run is "not fit because lazy" parents should be right behind the teacher telling them to put some effort in.

But i do want them to stretch themselves, and reading a lot of the posts here i can't see who is going to teach their kids how to do that. They don't do it at home, and teachers are mean if they do it.
It’s not mean for teachers to stretch kids by assessing their current ability and choosing an appropriate stretch goal which is within the child’s range of ability, then supporting them to achieve it with appropriate techniques. It IS mean for a teacher to say “speed up” without assessing why the child isn’t going faster or providing any support or intervention to achieve the desired goal.

In other words, just telling a pupil to do something they don’t know how to do is pointless. A teacher’s job is to teach them how to do it.

Anyone can get fitter if they work at it!

Being more academically intelligent is harder to achieve. In most kids, both of those things will improve with effort.

Why are you making assumptions about what I do with my kids, or how smart they are?

My kids are all top set btw, youngest two top 10 in their year across all subjects, top 5 in STEM 😂 Oldest taking maths, Chem and biology at A level - A, A, B predictions! 😂

So sorry, stay mad about that, but it’s not one or the other.

And it bloody well is the parents job to help their kids outside of school. Arguably, it is largely the parents job to do this. Yes teachers play a role, but as parents it’s our job to ensure our child is doing as well as they can.

And this here demonstrates the fundamental difference between how some of us parent, and some of us don’t.

Why can’t parents encourage their kids to do this and give them more confidence that way?
Why can’t parents teach their kids chemistry? If they want PE (or anything else) to be done at school then they need to teach it AT SCHOOL. Parents can’t be expected to teach kids things they don’t know, understand or do themselves.

Running is one foot in front of the other! Not hard.

Teaching kids how to catch a ball, how to run?

WTAF?

And don’t latch onto the ‘speed up’ comment. It was one example of what a teacher might say. There are plenty of others.

They DO assess kids in PE - you are talking utter rubbish!

Quincy, not necessarily. In my school we were split into 2 groups for sports. They could have made one group competitive and one group non competitive.

I’d have been far happier having a quiet run around the hockey pitch with my headphones on and also gained a sense of achievement and health benefits.

I just felt it was a waste of time trying to get a non competitive child to complete in sports. …like trying to get someone who doesn’t like singing to take part in a school musical - pointless!

Anyone can get fitter if they work at it! Being more academically intelligent is harder to achieve.
I disagree. Anyone can learn algebra if they work at it. Whereas physical fitness is dependent on the body you were born with.

You’re being ridiculous.

Basic fitness is not chemistry is it. We are talking about fitness.

I can teach chemistry to mine, no problem. I have done it at degree level. Most haven’t so it wouldn’t be a reasonable ask others to do so.

But Everyone knows how to jog or walk briskly and all parents know if their kid is getting enough exercise and is living a healthy life.

Or is that also the teachers job too? To manage your kids health and fitness.

Running is one foot in front of the other! Not hard.
Maybe not for you. I personally find it very difficult. Good technique needs to be taught. This assumption that everyone can just do it without instruction is a large part of the problem.

Everyone knows how to jog or walk briskly and all parents know if their kid is getting enough exercise and is living a healthy life
This is a very privileged and ableist assumption.

Rubbish!

Anyone can get fitter, barring physical disabilities that may prevent them from doing this. Most people, and most young people, do not have these.

You are talking utter nonsense.

Comapring gaining physical fitness outside of school (which btw is required for general health in life and not just part of a weekly torture session as you seem to think for pupils) with algebra is a silly strawman.

Do better, arguing on here and re your fitness bill expectations for children generally.

Re- read my quotes - and not selectively either!

And LOL to me being ableist, but you saying anyone Can do algebra?

Ok then!

So now we have moved onto exceptions for people with disabilities? Which isn’t what this thread was about!

But you keep going.

Cant wait to see what pops up next.

Good god!

You’d argue with a paper bag wouldn’t you.

You can walk I presume?

And if you can’t, why are you applying these extreme exceptions to this thread and PE lessons for largely able kids?

People don’t need to be taught to run!! What is wrong with you?

You think parents are teaching toddlers to run? 🤦🏼‍♀️

😂😂😂

Someone thinks PE classses to teach kids how to walk, run and catch a ball!

How far we have fallen as a society and the expectations of its citizens within!

"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."

I would say this is exactly why PE should be as it is.
When I was kid I was concerned about people seeing my body.
When i got to secondary school and did we we changed together
I soon realised it is not a big deal
Team sport help to build relationships
Confidence
Teach personal responsibility
Teach that sometimes you lose in life
Too many kids are weeded to their phone
We have the highest obesity level in Europe
As for badminton fencing etc it is not possible you have a class of 25 you would
Fencing would hugely increase insurance and need specialist coaches who are expensive
need a huge facility top accommodate all kids
And if they do not like PE I assume they will not like any sports

Running any decent distance is also about learning how to pace yourself, what and when to eat beforehand, hydrating yourself, techniques to keep going when you feel like flagging (like focusing on your breathing). And of course warming and warming down to prevent injury and maximise performance.

Running well is also about listening to your own body, what works for one person doesn't work for everyone.

This is all stuff I learned myself in my 20s and 30s. At school the PE teacher just yelled "run faster!" and "try harder!"