The Scottish Association of Teachers of Physical Education (SATPE) is calling on the Scottish government to deliver on a longstanding promise: that all primary school pupils should receive two hours of high-quality PE each week. Despite government guidance and frameworks highlighting the importance of physical activity and physical education, many schools still fall short.
Back in 2011, the Scottish government pledged that by 2014 all primary schools would provide at least two hours of quality PE per week. More than a decade later, that commitment remains unmet in too many classrooms.
A recent SATPE survey of over 300 primary teachers sheds light on why: timetabling pressures, limited facilities, insufficient professional learning and a lack of specialist support all squeeze out opportunities for quality PE.
Missing out on PE’s benefits
The result is that too many children miss out on the health, wellbeing and learning benefits that high-quality PE provides.
These challenges are more than statistics; they’re realities witnessed first-hand by primary PE specialists. Consistent specialist teaching has enabled some schools not only to exceed the mandatory PE hours, but also to expand extracurricular programmes and earn the sportscotland Gold Award.
This illustrates what’s possible when schools have the right expertise, support and resources.
Quality PE matters from the start. Research shows that quality PE, delivered early and regularly, equips children with core movement skills, confidence and motivation to value physical activity for life. Without this foundation, children may struggle to engage in wider physical activities throughout secondary school and into adulthood.
SATPE’s survey reveals that nearly half of primary teachers lack confidence in delivering PE, and the vast majority believe more professional learning and specialist support would raise standards.
Misconceptions that PE is “just sport”, as well as inconsistent delivery models and crowded curricula, exacerbate the problem. Yet evidence from Scotland and abroad shows that targeted investment in teacher professional development and specialist support can transform outcomes.
Examples include Clackmannanshire’s team of PE specialists and the Scottish Primary Physical Education Project’s postgraduate courses for generalist teachers.
Specialist support to strengthen PE provision
To strengthen PE provision nationwide, SATPE last month launched the Make Time for PE campaign, calling for:
- National strategy and messaging to reaffirm PE as a core part of the curriculum and support schools in delivering two hours of high-quality PE weekly.
- Professional development that invests in teacher learning pathways through initial education, postgraduate programmes and career-long support.
- Specialist support to expand access to PE specialists who can work alongside class teachers to raise standards for all pupils.
PE is not optional - it is central to Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence and essential for children’s health, wellbeing and learning. Teachers are committed, but they cannot do it alone. They need time, professional learning and national leadership.
The Make Time for PE campaign is a call to action - let’s ensure every child experiences the lifelong benefits of quality PE.
Dominic Tollan is a primary PE specialist and president of SATPE, which holds its annual conference in Larbert today. Dr Nicola Carse is deputy head of the University of Edinburgh Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (ISPEHS) and a senior lecturer in PE
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