The Importance of Physical Education at Port Regis

"Physical education develops pupils' physical competence and confidence, and their ability to use these to perform in a range of activities. It promotes physical skilfulness, physical development and a knowledge of the body in action. Physical education provides opportunities for pupils to be creative, competitive and to face up to different challenges as individuals and in groups and teams. It promotes positive attitudes towards active and healthy lifestyles. Pupils learn to think in different ways to suit a wide variety of creative, competitive and challenging activities. They learn how to plan, perform and evaluate actions, ideas and performances to improve their quality and effectiveness. Through this process pupils discover their aptitudes, abilities and preferences, and make choices about how to get involved in lifelong physical activity."

(Qualifications and Curriculum Authority)

 

In the following, 'activities' is a broad term encompassing all aspects of Physical Education and extra-curricular activities in general.

 

Achievement and quality in the activities provided is appropriate for the ages, aptitudes and abilities of the pupils concerned and the quality of provision results in the appropriate personal development of the pupils.
levels of achievement in activities observed, and achieved by pupils in awards and competitions are at least commensurate with their ages and aptitude:

• The programme of activities offers a suitable range of activities and is appropriate to the ages and abilities of the pupils concerned;
• The methods used to implement the programme are effective;
• The level and extent of pupils' participation in activities makes a contribution to their educational experience and achievement which is at least satisfactory;
• A satisfactory proportion of teaching and non-teaching staff contribute to the programme of activities and efficiently deployed;
• The system of recording and reporting pupils' participation and levels of achievement in activities are efficient and effective.

Clearly the objectives of the QCA and ISI go 'hand-in-hand' and provide concrete guidelines and expectations of and for a Physical Education programme within a school.

Aims and Purposes of Physical Education:

PE contributes to the general education of a child through physical activity and offers opportunities for pupils to:

• Become skilful and intelligent performers;
• Acquire and develop skill, performing with increasing physical competence and confidence, in a range of physical activities and contexts;
• Learn how to select and apply skills, tactics and compositional ideas to suit activities that need different approaches and ways of thinking;
• Develop their ideas in a creative way;
• Set targets for themselves and compete against others, individually and as team members;
• Understand what it takes to persevere, succeed and acknowledge others' success;
• Respond to a variety of challenges in a range of physical contexts and environments;
• Take the initiative, lead activity and focus on improving aspects of their own performance;
• Discover their own aptitudes and preferences for different activities;
• Make informed decisions about the importance of exercise in their lives;
• Develop positive attitudes to participation in physical activity.

(Qualifications and Curriculum Authority)

Physical Education in the National Curriculum:

"The Government believes that two hours of physical activity a week, including the National Curriculum for physical education and extra-curricular activities, should be an aspiration for all schools."

 

(Qualifications and Curriculum Authority)