The importance of a "PE Starter"

A substantial amount of PE lesson time is lost due to time spent changing clothes, transitioning to and from lessons and gathering up the appropriate equipment and then relocating to a dedicated teaching space. Previous research (Smith, 2015) has found that, on average, only 44% of lesson time is spent engaged in Physical activity (PA) which, over two 1 hour lessons, amounts to less than 1 hour of PA per week. As Head of LS PE at Harrow, my colleagues and I often discuss creative strategies aimed to increase the 44% of active lesson time to ensure pupils; a) increase their overall sporting attainment, and b) improve their Physical Health, which, will in turn, enhance their educational attainment.

This term we are starting to trial a variety of different PE starters. From educational videos, to sporting challenges such as "How many keepy-uppy's" can you do in one minute, we are noticing the pupils in Key Stage 2 changing in half the time and desperate to get into the Sports Hall to see what challenges are install. One group of Year 3's all changed in less than 3 minutes! If we can continue to engage pupils imminently, the overall percentage of active lesson time will increase and we hope that as a department pupils will leave Harrow as "competent and confident to continue in lifelong sport".