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Sport and fitness for today’s youth
Future of PE is at risk, claims afPE By Louise Cordell THE future of physical education as we know it is at risk following a wide ranging curriculum review, according to the Association for Physical Education. The most detailed review of the primary curriculum in a decade has been slammed by the association for reducing the importance and visibility of sports lessons. The new recommendations, published by former Ofsted chief Sir Jim Rose, aim to replace the 11 subjects primaries must cover by law with six ‘areas of learning’. In the new curriculum, PE would come under one of these umbrella areas – ‘Understanding Physical Development, Health and Wellbeing’ which would include things such as mental health, money management and drug abuse. But Professor Margaret Talbot, afPE chief executive, believes PE is important enough to be part of the curriculum in its own right. She added: “Physical education is the only school subject which is expected to make major contributions to national health and sport strategies. “So it is disappointing that this review has failed to recognise its dis-
tinctive value and has reduced its importance and visibility – resulting in a direct threat to its continuing place in the primary curriculum.” As well as the topics currently covered in PE lessons, the new area of learning would include lessons about relationships, enterprise skills and issues surrounding drugs and alcohol. Pupils would also be taught to use ICT safely, recognise discrimination and bullying and to understand the influence of the media. Margaret added: “Right across the world, where PE has been subsumed under an umbrella title, it has all but disappeared. At a time when the UK should be seen to be delivering on its commitment to a lasting Olympic legacy for children and young people, it is sad that the future of their physical education is apparently at risk.” A public consultation of the Rose Review is now set to take place, led by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Margaret added: “We plan to make a strong representation to restore physical education to the central position in the primary curriculum which it, and the nation’s children, deserve.”
June 2009 £2.75
Safety puts brake on cycling to school MILLIONS of children would prefer to cycle to school but are prevented by safety concerns according to a new survey. Cycling England questioned nine to 11 year olds from around the country to find out why only one per cent of them rode their bikes to and from school. Over a third claimed that their parents thought cycling was too dangerous and 29 per cent felt they did not have the skills to keep safe on the roads. Despite this, over half thought that cycling was more fun than travelling by car and 80 per cent enjoyed the exercise, which left them more awake and ready for lessons. Paul Robison, Cycling England’s bikeability manager, said: “Concern about safety is entirely natural but cycling is a life skill, and one that children want to master. “I urge schools to come forward and take up Bikeability training as part of the push to get more children cycling.”