Physical education and sport at school in Europe

The report begins with an executive summary highlighting the main findings and conclusions of this short mapping exercise. Chapter 1 considers national strategies and large-scale initiatives concerned with physical education and physical activity. It also provides information on monitoring of national strategies. Chapter 2 goes on to examine the curriculum, including its national aims, learning outcomes, activities specified in the central curriculum and steering documents, and exemptions from physical education. A short section is devoted to health education. Chapter 3 examines the recommended taught time for physical education and reviews changes in these recommendations over the last five years. It also analyses the share of taught time devoted to this area compared to other subjects. Chapter 4 outlines the use of main methods of assessment in physical education. It also describes central assessment tools designed for physical education. In addition, this chapter examines whether pupils’ attainment in this area is shown in year final reports. Chapter 5 focuses on teachers of physical education. It examines whether generalists or specialists teach the subject and analyses the qualifications needed by specialists to do so. The chapter also covers continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities designed for teachers. Chapter 6 on extracurricular physical activities and sports provides many examples of good practice, and show how the scope of physical activities may be extended beyond the practice of compulsory physical education. Chapter 7 is devoted to planned reforms linked to physical education and sport activities. It groups together the most common types of reforms such as national strategies to promote physical education, changes related to curricula and teachers as well as the improvement of sport infrastructure at schools.