PE, sport and physical activity in Scottish schools

Organised by the Scottish Local Authority Network for Physical Education and the Scottish Schoolsport Federation

A conference held at Howden Park, Livingston, on 10 June, 2002.

by David R Hill - 10 June 2002

Organised by the Scottish Local Authority Network for Physical Education and the Scottish Schoolsport Federation

1. Sessions

Mary Allison, leader of the Physical Activity Task Force (PATF) presented the newly published consultation document "Let’s make Scotland more active – a strategy for physical activity". The motivation for this initiative comes from the frightening statistics of the consequence of inactivity, namely ill-health, both physical and mental. PATF is eager to promote any kind of activity among all age groups, in order first to halt the decline in fitness and then to prolong the period during which a person is fit and able to live and work without medical support.

With regard to school-age children they are working within the context of the PE Review and National Priorities for Education. Hence this conference for those concerned with sport and PE in schools.

Nicol Stephen, Deputy Minster of Education, thought that the poor state of fitness could be improved if the good practice of some schools was applied throughout Scotland. He announced SEED support for North Lanarkshire’s three proposed sports comprehensives and suggested that school leavers might be encouraged to spend a gap year in schools helping with extra-curricular clubs. He looked forward to the day when crowds of 20,000 would turn out to watch the local school playing in the local stadium as happened all over the USA.

A team from the Scottish Executive described the current wave of the New Opportunities Fund, in which £87M (i.e. about £3M per authority) is being distributed over three years , £52M for facilities and £35M for activities. The latter amount is to be shared almost equally between out of school hours activities (OSHA) and schemes devised to reduce crime (Active Steps). Authorities do not have to bid against each other but show that their projects are worthwhile and sustainable and enjoy wide support. The deadline for application is September.

The most interesting session was the discussion group, dominated in my case by secondary PE teachers.

2. The problems faced by PE Staff

1. Deterioration of fitness levels and skills among S1 entrants. Reasons:
   1. lack of PE specialists for ages 8-10,
   2. the end of the practice whereby secondary school staff did sessions at the cluster primaries,
   3. the reluctance of heads to give time to PE since it was not tested and did not feature in league tables.
       
2. Reluctance of secondary pupils to take part in sport. Reasons:
   1. unwillingness to undress in open changing rooms
   2. inability to get dressed and undressed quickly
   3. unwillingness to join clubs when they did not know anyone else or the coach
   4. no support from families

3. Lack of facilities. Reasons:
   1. Not enough to provide whole school with I hour per week let alone the 2 hours er week proposed.
   2. Rolls increased but not sports facilities
   3. Loss of sports facilities for examinations

4. Fewer teachers then ever willing to run extra-curricular activities. Reasons:
   1. Not paid (contrast study clubs)
   2. Too old
   3. Not trained
   4. Health and Safety and risk hassle

3. My observations

I formed the impression that PE had taken a wrong turning when it turned itself into an academic subject. This impression was reinforced when I looked at the content of courses advertised in the conference pack by Edinburgh University for degrees and diplomas in PE and youth sport. All abstract theory and nothing to do with making children fit, able to enjoy sport and become better. One teacher compared PE to craft and design where all the emphasis is on design and no one can use any tools.

For many reasons the old saying mens sana in corpore sano has been forgotten and at the same time schools have become unattractive to both pupils and teachers. There is a connection between the two. One way to make schools more attractive would be to pay for teachers to carry out extra-curricular activities and employ PE staff as exponents and promoters of physical activity rather than as classroom teachers of an academic subject.

I suggest the following:

1. School reports to include (and thus show importance of):
   1. Height and weight of child with correct range of weight.
   2. Participation in extra-curricular physical activity
       
2. All teachers:
   1. To offer extra-curricular activity for payment either within contract or as overtime.
   2. To obtain certification through practical training as coach or expert.
       
3. P E staff to have responsibility for:
   1. Promoting physical activity
   2. Co-ordinating coaching policies
   3. Arranging in-school and inter-school matches
   4. Teaching skills in primary schools
   5. Liaison with local adult clubs

David R Hill

10/06/02

10 Jun 2002