Is PE compulsory in Primary School?

Counting_Pennies_2

The reason I ask is that my DD regularly comes home to say she hasn't done her PE for that week.


They have one indoor session and one outdoor each week.


So with the weather the outdoor session is regularly cancelled. However this last term loads of the indoor PE sessions have also been cancelled.


They are regularly changed into their PE clothes by their teacher and walked to the hall to find another teacher has commandeered the hall for something else so they have to go back to their class room to get changed.


Today apparently they took a vote on doing PE or staying in the classroom to finish off an art project.


I am starting to get a little fed up, but before I say anything I wanted to know if it is compulsory


Many thanks

Bluejeanbaby

Whether it's compulsory or not I think I would be fed up too if my child's PE classes were always cancelled. It's really important to children to stay active and enjoy physical activities.

I would mention it to the school. Surely there is a hall timetable & other staff should know when the hall is supposed to be in use?

paulineb_2

It can be difficult to get the use of the hall in a large school. My understanding is that its recommended that primary school kids get 2 sessions of PE a week (Im in Scotland though so it might be different here), but in practice, it might be less than that.

mumtosix

The national curriculum programmes of study for PE at key stages 1 and 2 have been disapplied with effect from 1 September 2013 and are no longer statutory. However, from 2014 it will be compulsory. This is for England, not sure for Scotland.

neverdespairgirl

I'd certainly mention it to the school, yes - it's important.

goingsenile

In Scotland in primary it is meant to be at least 2 hours per week
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi/PE

However like the OP, this very rarely happens in my daughters school and annoys me too! In the run up to the summer and Christmas concerts etc they are lucky if they get one short session
AJ

Rummer

It does not always have to be physical PE for example in my DD school they (especially in the winter) occasionally have sport theory/skills lessons where they will watch clips of sports and discuss tactics and ways to perform movements. They also have lessons on the importance of exercise and healthy eating.

However the majority of lessons should be actively participating in exercise.

sulkisu

I think it depends on why they are being missed. Physical Education is important, but as long as children are playing outside during break times, lunch times and outside of school hours, it shouldn't have a huge impact - unlike maths or English lessons being repeatedly cancelled.

daveyjp

As sport doesn't involve learning every King and Queen of England Mr Gove does not feel it is necessary. So don't be surprised how little PE is done in some schools.

Having a daughter in primary school I am constantly shocked at how little sport some children her age at other schools do. She currently does 2 sessions of PE and swimming as part of normal school, football coaching at lunchtime, rugby, gym and performing arts after school.

Next year she will be able to do athletics, tennis and netball.

She plays tennis and rugby on a weekend and speaking to parents at both these clubs if the parents didn't pay for weekend sport the children wouldn't do any sport as the schools don't see it as important.

The reason my daughter's school do so much sport is due to the commitment of the teachers.

If your school is lacking start asking questions of the Governors.

Mojisola

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

They are regularly changed into their PE clothes by their teacher and walked to the hall to find another teacher has commandeered the hall for something else so they have to go back to their class room to get changed.

This suggests very bad planning on someone's part - doesn't the class teacher check that the hall is free or is the bad organisation higher up the chain of command?

julie03

my childs school must be really lucky then, dont thInk they ever missed PE
The infants have now brought in a fitness and games instructor who all the kids love as he plays so many games with them and teaches loads about movement and co-ordination.

The juniors have a timetable for the hall which they stick to quite rigidly and they are out most weathers, and have loads of sports clubs