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Is PE compulsory in Primary School?

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  • My son (who is 8 and in year 4) does swimming at school once a week, tap dancing once a week, and indoor PE / gym / etc once a week. They don't do much in the way of team games or anything, because in central London there's not the room for it, but they do 3 hours weekly, which is a Good Thing.
    ...much enquiry having been made concerning a gentleman, who had quitted a company where Johnson was, and no information being obtained; at last Johnson observed, that 'he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney'.
  • Torndao01
    Torndao01 Posts: 96 Forumite
    As others have said I have a great experience of sports at my child's primary, this is down the Head and individual teachers commitment.

    Rain or shine, the kids are out in all weathers (as usually some parents complain about this).

    You need to discuss it with the Head, you will get a feel straight away if the Head is not interested in the sports side and then you will have a uphill struggle regarding sports. Or it may just be a very disorganized individual teacher and the Head will be able to help rectify the situation quickly.

    Unfortunately, schools vary in that if you have good Head Staff this filters thought out the school and if your unlucky rubbish Head Staff can trash a school overnight.
  • Sadly yes, a new teacher, and a very young one at that and newly qualified and had minimal support from the school.


    The head teacher does not take any form of criticism from parents, and if you dare make a suggestion or ask a question you are damned for the rest of the time you are in the school. I should know I have attempted in the past and got a public dressing down in front of many parents.


    Then the deputy head who is the person who continually commandeers the hall for her projects.


    The poor teacher doesn't have a chance.


    I just wondered if it was a legal requirement as we could at least go collectively to the teacher or head, but individually it is asking for trouble as you will get singled out as the trouble maker!
  • maman
    maman Posts: 29,699 Forumite
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    That's highly unfair! We often send fitness instructors into our local schools to coach children in a variety of sports and activities at lunch times and after school clubs. They are highly experienced and qualified in what they do. Far moreso than most school teachers running a PE lesson!



    totally not the case, have watched the lessons as i am a volunteer sometimes at the school, he is highly qualified and his classes are extremely well run and look like loads of fun, he is alot more qualified in fitness and games than most of the teachers, plus the TAs help in his lesson so is very well managed[/QUOTE]
    room512 wrote: »
    Lots of primary schools have sports coaches this year - they were part of the Olympic legacy (I think).



    I'm happy to be corrected and delighted that this coach sounds up to the mark. Sadly I've met too many who can be very 'shouty' and have no idea how to manage a large group (30+) where not everyone is keen to be there. The fact that TAs are in support does suggest to me that he is standing in for qualified teachers though.
  • LondonGal
    LondonGal Posts: 152 Forumite
    duchy wrote: »
    Really?
    The OP says the kids are already changed and go to the hall to find it in use.......so I don't see the logic in your assumption.

    Fair comment - the rest of the post stands though. It's important to do things in the right order, which in this case would be class teacher, HT, governors, LA (depending what sort of school).
    If you want proper advice, please consult a legal professional. I am not one! Thanks.
  • Horace
    Horace Posts: 14,426 Forumite
    I would be inclined to go to the governors and LA if the headteacher is ineffective and dislikes criticism. I know that here in Birmingham the LA is trying to promote some form of fitness activity in primary schools on a daily basis because exercise is important and it can be combined with classes about food. Where I live there has been a public health study which has found that 1 in 4 kids is obese (this can be replicated across the country) so there is a lot of emphasis in getting kids active.

    I hope you succeed in getting answers because it is not right that the school cannot organise a timetable for use of the hall especially with regards to PE - it is sheer laziness on the part of the school.
  • LondonGal
    LondonGal Posts: 152 Forumite
    If the governors are doing their job correctly, they will just refer it back. They are not there to oversee day to day issues. The correct route is teacher, HT, govs, LA. The LA would pass back to HT, Govs would pass back to HT, HT would refer back to classteacher. Might as well get it right straight away. :T
    If you want proper advice, please consult a legal professional. I am not one! Thanks.
  • maman
    maman Posts: 29,699 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Horace wrote: »
    I would be inclined to go to the governors and LA if the headteacher is ineffective and dislikes criticism. I know that here in Birmingham the LA is trying to promote some form of fitness activity in primary schools on a daily basis because exercise is important and it can be combined with classes about food. Where I live there has been a public health study which has found that 1 in 4 kids is obese (this can be replicated across the country) so there is a lot of emphasis in getting kids active.

    I hope you succeed in getting answers because it is not right that the school cannot organise a timetable for use of the hall especially with regards to PE - it is sheer laziness on the part of the school.


    I think that's an unfair remark. So many schools are trying to provide a balanced curriculum with totally inadequate facilities such as one hall which has to be used for all large group activities including lunch. This is set to get worse if all infants have a cooked meal from September. Then the downside is that schools get judged by league tables of academic subjects which tends to edge more active and creative things to the periphery of the timetable.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite
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    Horace wrote: »
    I hope you succeed in getting answers because it is not right that the school cannot organise a timetable for use of the hall especially with regards to PE - it is sheer laziness on the part of the school.
    maman wrote: »
    I think that's an unfair remark. So many schools are trying to provide a balanced curriculum with totally inadequate facilities such as one hall which has to be used for all large group activities including lunch. This is set to get worse if all infants have a cooked meal from September. Then the downside is that schools get judged by league tables of academic subjects which tends to edge more active and creative things to the periphery of the timetable.

    I agree with Horace - if a school can't organise a hall timetable without making constant changes, I wouldn't be impressed with the senior management.
  • totallybored
    totallybored Posts: 1,141 Forumite
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    Mojisola wrote: »
    I agree with Horace - if a school can't organise a hall timetable without making constant changes, I wouldn't be impressed with the senior management.

    It's not always that easy in a primary school. If you're a 3 form entry with only one hall just ensuring each class gets 1 hall slot a week is difficult enough. Unfortunately some of these then have to be used for other things such as special assemblies, visiting drama / theatre groups and other visitors, christmas plays and loads of other things. Schools don't have the money to build another hall unfortunately. It really does depend on the layout and size of each school, I've been in an old Victorian building that had 3 halls, one on each level and every child had 2 indoor PE lessons a week and lunches were served in another building. Where I am currently has one hall, over 500 kids and a lunch time staggered over 2 hours (plus the time for setting the tables out and then putting them back and cleaning).
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