Future of PE in Our Primary Schools

According to figures published today by the Scottish Government, Dundee is one of only three out of Scotland's 32 councils (along with East Renfrewshire and Perth and Kinross) delivering two hours of PE in all its primary schools. But how long will this position be maintained in Dundee when the future of the visiting (mobile) PE specialists who work with groups of Primary Schools is in doubt?

These additional teachers, with specialist PE qualifications, work alongside the generalist class teachers in the Primary schools. It is rumored that just like the art and drama specialists, whose jobs disappeared in the Education cuts for this financial year, the team of visiting PE specialists are likely to be next in line. I think this would be a big mistake. This would not only diminish opportunities for our primary pupils to engage in 'quality physical education' as part of their school curriculum but also diminish opportunities to foster healthy and less sedentary life styles. Unfortunately for our primary school pupils, this looks likely to another target missed and another broken SNP promise on education.

PE Shortfall in Dundee Secondary Schools

Last week I publicly queried why two of our Dundee Secondary Schools were not providing the government recommended two hours of quality Physical Education per week for all their pupils in S1- 4 classes.

This week, I have been surprised to learn that St John's Roman Catholic High School and Craigie High School are the two secondary schools in the city that were apparently not meeting this standard. This is puzzling because both these schools have excellent indoor and outdoor facilities for physical education.

I am pleased that my questions have led to the Education Department committing to undertaking to 'audit the provision of PE in all our schools' again. I hope that the Education Convener, Councillor Liz Fordyce, has appointed sufficient qualified PE staff to ensure that this standard can be achieved in all nine of our Secondary Schools.

Dundee Secondary Pupils Miss Out on Quality PE?

A Scottish Government pledge that all school children receive a guaranteed minimum of two hours of physical education each week is apparently not being met in all of our Dundee Secondary Schools.

In May 2007, the SNP promised parents that their children would be guaranteed two hours of PE each week with a specialist PE Teacher. Parents in Dundee will be disappointed to learn that in July 2010, in response to a Freedom of Information request, it was revealed that two secondary school in Dundee were only meeting half of this recommended minimum provision for pupils in S1-4. This is despite, Education Secretary, Mike Russell's insistence that,
'The Scottish Government, together with our partners in CoSLA and local authorities, are committed to young people throughout Scotland receiving two hours quality PE every week.'

Perhaps more worrying is that when pupils move up into in S5 and S6, PE and sport become entirely optional and many pupils opt out.

Two hours of PE is supposedly embedded within the Curriculum for Excellence, which, according to the government has been adopted in all schools from August this year.

Will Education Director, Jim Collins, now confirm whether any improvements have been made to the timetabling of PE in our Secondary schools in the new school year? More specifically can he guarantee that every S1 - S4 pupil will be timetabled for two hours of quality Physical Education every week?