Latest news with #physicaleducation
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Troubling decline' in secondary school PE lessons
A "troubling decline" in the number of hours England's secondary school pupils spend doing physical education (PE) "should be a wake-up call to society", according to children's exercise charity the Youth Sport Trust (YST). The organisation says figures show "nearly 4,000 PE hours lost in the last year alone" in state-funded schools, and calls for "urgent action to protect and prioritise" the subject. The YST also claims that since the London 2012 Olympics "almost 45,000 PE hours have disappeared from secondary school timetables", and that the number of PE teachers in England has also dropped by 7%. In response, the government said it is "determined to break down barriers to accessing PE and school sports for young people". In its annual report, the YST says that 2.2 million children in England are now doing less than 30 minutes of activity a day, and less than half (48%) are meeting the UK's Chief Medical Officers' recommendation of at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. It says the steepest decline has hit 11-14-year-olds, with more than 2,800 hours cut and 347 teachers lost for this age group in the past year, at a time of rising childhood obesity rates. YST also adds that girls, children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and those from disadvantaged backgrounds "continue to face the greatest barriers to being active". However, the study also found that 93% of young people believe PE is important, 71% want to be more active at school, and 96% of teachers agree that sport and play benefit mental wellbeing. While PE is a mandatory subject in schools, the recommended amount of two hours a week is not enforced. YST chief executive Ali Oliver said: "Our children are moving less, feeling unhappier, and losing access to the transformative power of PE, contributing to stagnant physical activity levels. "The fall in PE hours is sadly an exacerbation of a longer-term trend and should be a wake-up call to society, from policymakers to schools and parents. "Unless we take action to reverse these damaging trends and increase activity levels to improve wellbeing, we risk failing a generation." In a statement, the government said: "These figures highlight the government's dire inheritance, but we're determined to break down barriers to accessing PE and school sports for young people through our Plan for Change, helping to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. "We are working across the government and with our partners including Youth Sport Trust and Sport England to boost participation and have already invested £100m to upgrade sports facilities and launched a programme to improve access to sports for pupils with special education needs and disabilities. "Our ongoing curriculum and assessment review seeks to deliver a broader curriculum, so that children do not miss out on subjects including PE and sport."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
'Troubling decline' in secondary school PE lessons
A "troubling decline" in the number of hours England's secondary school pupils spend doing physical education (PE) "should be a wake-up call to society", according to children's exercise charity the Youth Sport Trust (YST).The organisation says figures show "nearly 4,000 PE hours lost in the last year alone" in state-funded schools, and calls for "urgent action to protect and prioritise" the YST also claims that since the London 2012 Olympics "almost 45,000 PE hours have disappeared from secondary school timetables", and that the number of PE teachers in England has also dropped by 7%.In response, the government said it is "determined to break down barriers to accessing PE and school sports for young people". In its annual report, the YST says that 2.2 million children in England are now doing less than 30 minutes of activity a day, and less than half (48%) are meeting the UK's Chief Medical Officers' recommendation of at least 60 minutes of physical activity a says the steepest decline has hit 11-14-year-olds, with more than 2,800 hours cut and 347 teachers lost for this age group in the past year, at a time of rising childhood obesity also adds that girls, children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and those from disadvantaged backgrounds "continue to face the greatest barriers to being active".However, the study also found that 93% of young people believe PE is important, 71% want to be more active at school, and 96% of teachers agree that sport and play benefit mental wellbeing. 'We risk failing a generation' While PE is a mandatory subject in schools, the recommended amount of two hours a week is not chief executive Ali Oliver said: "Our children are moving less, feeling unhappier, and losing access to the transformative power of PE, contributing to stagnant physical activity levels."The fall in PE hours is sadly an exacerbation of a longer-term trend and should be a wake-up call to society, from policymakers to schools and parents."Unless we take action to reverse these damaging trends and increase activity levels to improve wellbeing, we risk failing a generation."In a statement, the government said: "These figures highlight the government's dire inheritance, but we're determined to break down barriers to accessing PE and school sports for young people through our Plan for Change, helping to improve their mental and physical wellbeing."We are working across the government and with our partners including Youth Sport Trust and Sport England to boost participation and have already invested £100m to upgrade sports facilities and launched a programme to improve access to sports for pupils with special education needs and disabilities."Our ongoing curriculum and assessment review seeks to deliver a broader curriculum, so that children do not miss out on subjects including PE and sport."
The National
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Palestine and FC Masar player Miral Qassis
Miral Qassis says she is planning on pursuing a university degree in Egypt and is keen on studying physical education.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Putnam Heights students fundraise for PE equipment at student Fun Run
EAU CLAIRE — During Putnam Heights Elementary School's first ever fun run, students were able to see how doing laps around the school can turn into a fundraiser. Ben Wieker, physical education teacher at Putnam Heights Elementary, said a warm-up run has been a big addition to their school's physical education classes this year. 'Running has been a big part of my life growing up a cross-country and track runner — and some marathon stuff too — and it is just a passion I wanted to share with my students,' he said. 'I started doing three or four minute jogs at every gym class from kindergarten up through fifth grade which we have done most of the year, and we just wanted a culminating activity to enjoy the weather out here and make a little bit of a fundraiser on the side to hopefully purchase some roller blades and add some helmets next year.' Their fundraiser aims for $8,000 to cover the costs of PE items and storage. The event which took place throughout the whole day on Friday involved nearly all grades, with Wieker estimating that at least 400 of the school's 450 students would take part in the run. Each lap around the school was approximately half a mile. Students could try for as many laps as they wanted during a 30 minute period, with the fundraiser encouraging kids to do as many laps as they could. 'We pushed out some messaging to our families to share with grandparents, parents, and neighbors if they like,' Wieker said. 'They have two choices if they want to participate: they could do a pledged amount per lap that they run, as we are tracking the laps today; or they could do a set amount. But no barriers; all students could participate whether they fundraised or not.' Wieker said a big philosophy of his is to not focus on competition as much, but rather expose kids to all the different sports and activities. But there was a little encouragement to those willing to go above and beyond. All the grades also had opportunities to plant a pie in Wieker's face after running. 'That is one of my motivating pieces,' he said. 'Part of our jog every day during gym is that if you can complete a four [or five] minute jog ... then you get a tally, and I have been tracking that for the whole school year for all of our students. Each class has a winner from Thursday, which was our last day of tallies. Each of those kids will pie me in the face and an extra motivation of our fun run out on the course is that the leader for most laps run today is also going to get to pie me.' With grades running throughout the day, Wieker said his hope is that students get to see the fun and the atmosphere that can come with running. 'You have the Eau Claire Marathon, the 5k and the half, as just one of many events in the local area. Running can be an approachable thing for all people of all ages, body types and abilities. You just need a pair of shoes and a place to go.'
