Two Hours of High Quality PE per week

All children, whatever their circumstances or abilities, should be able to participate in and enjoy physical education (PE) and sport.

(taken from the PE, School Sport and Club Links Strategy)

What will be achieved?

The overall objective, joint DfES and DCMS Public Service Agreement target, is to enhance the take up of sporting opportunities by 5-16 year olds. The aim is to increase the percentage of school children in England who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75% by 2006, with an extended target of 85% by 2008.

What is high quality PE and school sport?

'High quality PE and school sport produces young people with the skills, understanding, desire and commitment to continue to improve and achieve in a range of PE, sport and health-enhancing physical activities in line with their abilities.'

(DfES, DCMS, 2002)

Characteristics of the outcomes of high quality PE and school sport

When there is high quality PE and school sport, you will see young people that:

• Show a strong commitment to making PE and school sport an important and valuable part of their lives in both school and community;
• Know and understand what they are trying to achieve and how to go about it;
• Have an understanding of how what they do in PE and school and community-based sport contributes to a healthy and active lifestyle;
• Have the confidence to get involved in PE and school sport and are in control of their movement;
• Respond effectively to a range of different competitive, creative and challenge-type activities both as individuals and as an integral part of teams and groups;
• Are clearly thinking about what they are doing and making appropriate decisions for themselves;
• Show a desire to improve and achieve in relation to their abilities and aspirations;
• Have the stamina, suppleness and strength to keep going; and
• Enjoy PE and school and community sport.

When there is high quality PE and school sport, you will not see young people whom:

• Sit on the sidelines and avoid getting involved in any capacity;
• Have little confidence in themselves in PE and school sport activities;
• Show hesitancy in their performance;
• Make little or no progress in the control and co-ordination of their movement;
• Are confused about what they should be doing and the choices they can make;
• Wait to be told what to do and how to do it, seldom making their own decisions or taking the initiative;
• Are unable to keep up because they are tired and out of condition;
• Show little or no enjoyment or desire to take part in physical activities; and
• Show little or no desire to improve or achieve.

The impact of high quality PE and school sport on young people and schools

When PE and school sport provision is of the highest quality, all young people will, to the best of their abilities, develop and demonstrate the following personal qualities:

• A strong desire to learn and make progress;
• High levels of dedication, attendance and involvement in PE and school sport;
• High levels of commitment to PE and school sport;
• Good levels of positive behaviour such as politeness, fair play and helpfulness; and
• High levels of enjoyment and enthusiasm and a strong desire to get involved.

Developing these qualities affects young people's attitudes to school and learning. This has a positive impact on the whole school and can lead to whole school improvement.

See the DfES web site for full details on the PE, School Sport and Club Links Strategy http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pess.

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