Curriculum for Excellence entitles children and young people in Scotland to two hours (primary sector) and two periods (S1-S4 secondary sector) of core physical education per week. Scottish Government invested £7.4 million pounds over 2012-2016 to support schools to meet this target and improve the quality of learning and teaching in core physical education.
Education Scotland in partnership with sportscotland created a national programme of support to improve the quality of learning and build the capacity of specialist secondary physical education teachers, primary physical education teachers and non-specialist primary teachers. This has led to a significant increase from under 5% of schools providing two hours/two periods of core physical education in 2006 to 99% of schools in 2016.
The presentation will outline the national programme of support which proved to be the catalyst for change; shifting physical education from a traditional, marginalised subject to one that plays a central role within Curriculum for Excellence. This required an innovative approach to curriculum development involving policy leads, teachers, government officials, higher education staff, local authority staff and partners around physical activity and sport.
Physical education has a much greater focus on learning with the activities providing the contexts for learning. 'Significant Aspects of Learning' have been identified and listed under four areas: physical competencies; cognitive skills; personal qualities and physical fitness.
The presentation will conclude by sharing lessons learned, the impact on learners and teachers and the on-going challenges for Scotland.
• Innovative perspectives on physical education, physical activity, health and wellbeing a
