Unfit children are failing to break a sweat in physical education classes because of the poor state of the subject in schools, according to Ofsted. This is from the Telegraph…
Teachers are spending too much time in PE lessons talking to children about exercise and going through worksheets rather than ensuring pupils actually run around, it is claimed.
The watchdog is set to release the findings of a long-awaited investigation into PE later this week.
It is expected to say that subject standards need to drastically improve to enable the nation to capitalise on the Olympics legacy and cut levels of child obesity.
Ofsted will say that lessons are often worst in primary schools, with PE classes descending into little more than throwing balls and practising balancing. Many children also move into secondary school without being able to swim.
It is also feared that too many children are denied the chance to do any physical exertion at all, with teachers instead spending classes lecturing pupils.
According to reports, some schools with inadequate showering facilities did not want to waste precious time allowing children to get sweaty.
The disclosure comes weeks after Baroness Campbell, the head of UK Sport, said that thousands of children could “hardly move” at the age of 11 because of a lack of specialist PE teachers in primary schools.
The Government insists it is already addressing concerns over poor-quality PE in schools.
A draft National Curriculum published last week says that children should be given tuition in basic movements such as running, jumping, throwing and catching – and given an introduction to team games – in the first two years of school.
Between seven and 11 they should get the chance to play competitive sports and swim 25 metres by the time they start secondary school.
From the age of 11, they should develop techniques to improve performance in competitive sport.
More at: Unfit children ‘fail to break a sweat’ in poor PE lessons
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