#PEPulse - No.5

It feels like a bit of a theme is appearing in the news this week regarding the use of PE for things other than a love of movement and physical activity. Is this the return of an increasing trend in utilising Physical Education as a platform for fixing societal issues? I do hope not!

#In The News

???? The Government of Malta has introduced standardised fitness testing across schools within the country. The test, called 'FitMap', includes activities to evaluate children's athleticism and strength. Starting as a pilot project, Fitmap will initially be available at six state schools in five colleges across the country. Twelve teachers have been trained to use the system, and at the end of this scholastic year, they, together with students, will provide feedback. The test will then be rolled out across state secondary schools next academic year.

(I really don't know how I feel about this - I'd be keen to hear your thoughts)

???? In Poland, the Education Ministry has begun working with the Defence Ministry to adapt Physical Education curriculums to better prepare pupils for careers in 'Civil Defence'. 'Classes will prepare young people for military education, but will also include a civil defence component,” revealed education minister Barbara Nowacka.

(Wow!)

???? In France, The CNRS's 'Mouv' en Sante' research platform was launched to find out more about the state of the French population's physical condition as influenced by their lifestyles. The study, which will encompass the widest spectrum of French citizens will consider everyone from early years education through to adulthood. The Project 'aims to reach a million survey participants in the next three years which in turn will probably make three or four times as many people'.

?? In Hawai'i, preparations are well underway for the first 'Girls Flag Football' competition in the country. The Maui Interscholastic League will initially consist of nine teams with over 200 players on the league's roster. According to the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association, 58 schools will field teams in the inaugural flag football season across various Male and Female competitions.

???? Schools in the UK can apply for a School Kit Sponsorship Grant through Safesmart. The grant is for schools that, due to budget constraints, cannot properly invest in sport, and we have found that a formal sports kit provides an added value for the young people taking part. The deadline for applications is the 30th of April, so don't miss out.

?????? As we near the final weeks of peak recruiting season, there are still over 200 PE jobs available on the Tes website. These range from Heads of Dept through to newly qualified teachers, coaches, interns and graduate roles and are spread all across the world.

#Celebrations ??

???? Congratulations to Calum Erskine on the birth of his baby son! Many of us on the International PE circuit will know and have worked with Calum, and I'm sure everyone will be wishing their family well with the sleepless nights! ??

???? BSME - British Schools in the Middle East are celebrating an outstanding PE conference this week. It was a great event and everyone involved should be really proud of their accomplishments. ????

???? Tejesh Parsekar is celebrating what looks like a hugely successful Primary Field Day at International School Ho Chi Minh City . In his own words, 'it was a celebration of physical literacy, teamwork, and student agency in action! Rooted in the IB philosophy, the event fostered ATL skills like self-management, communication, and collaboration, while reinforcing conceptual understanding through movement'. Looks brilliant! ??

???? Mr 'WannaTeachPE' Ben Holden was on the road again this week, delivering sessions across schools in the UK. I'm not sure there is a harder-working PE person at the moment! Ben is still taking bookings for his GCSE PE revision sessions, so check out the detail below. Nice work Ben!

???????? Daniel King Anna Sheppard Gareth Johnson hosted the 2nd session of their Directors of Sport PD course this week. If you are in SE Asia and leading or aspiring to lead a PE department, you really should get onto this amazing opportunity.

???? Lucy Parkin is celebrating the achievements of one of her students Steffi, who has been selected to represent England at competitive baton twirling in Italy this summer. She's looking for support from local (not global) businesses who might be able to help sponsor them, as its not currently recognised as a sport and therefore attracts no financial backing...If you think you could help her, reach out.

???? Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong were celebrating the achievements of their pupils at their annual sports day this week. It looked like a vibrant showcase of athleticism, teamwork, and holistic growth from a great PE team!

???? James Watson is celebrating his mixed cricket teams efforts this week, at Lords Cricket Ground as part of the Capital Kids Cricket Competition. As he said himself 'Not bad for a state school who had no previous reputation for cricket... What we have achieved over the past three years is truly incredible' - And I couldn't agree more!

???? Helen Battelley MA was celebrating the launch of the 'Starting School' coalition website this week, to support schools, parents and teachers in understanding what 'school readiness' looks like in relation to different developmental stages. It looks like a great resource that is going to really have an impact.

#Reviews

???? Dr Aaron Bradbury announced that The Play Matters Guide is released this week. An essential Guide to the power of play in early childhood its packed with insights, research and practical strategies and should be on the reading list of every primary PE teacher this week. It's also free, which is amazing! Find out more here.

It's been a bumper week for Blog posts and articles. Here are some of my favourite reads from the past 7 days...

???? Lee Sullivan asked us to think about whether Dodgeball has a place in our PE curriculums in his PE Scholar article this week. Asking these difficult questions of ourselves is what makes us grow as teachers, so it's well worth a read and a reflection. You can access it here.

???? Staying with PE Scholar , Associate Tom Butler explored what Physical Literacy means to him this week and how he has embedded the concept into his work as Head of Sport and PE. You can read his reflections here.

???? James Simms wrote a powerful piece about 'Teaching the learning theories in PE and Sport lessons' this week, and released it on his 'Changing Rooms' blog page. Its fascinating and there is loads to take away from it and adopt within your own practice. You can find it on The EverLearner Ltd website here.

???? Martin Brockman from Performance Pathways explored his experiences as an elite level Decathlete in a lovely article here. He explored whether the lessons learnt by a multi-discipline athlete could be applied to what we do on a daily basis in PE lessons.

I wrote two short articles myself this week:

???? Understanding PCK Can Transform Your PE Teaching

???? Physical Literacy and Place-Based Education - A Powerful Partnership

and I'd love to hear your feedback on them.

#Talking Points - Lesson Starters This Week

???? Should Thomas Tuchel sing the English national anthem this week?

???? How did Rory McIlroy hold his nerve to win The Players playoff? - Can you prepare to cope with the pressure of sudden death?

???? March Madness - The craziest month in sport - But what is it?

#Research

The Impact Physical Activity has on Students' Academic Stress and Performance - Mendez, 2025

Educating Character Through Quality Physical Education: A Pedagogical Model - Dudley, 2025

Exploring the Value of Student Autonomy in Physical Education: Two Case Studies in the UK and Australia - Jefferson, Sullivan & Board, S. (2025)

Sports Team Participation, Bias-Based Bullying, and Mental Health Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents - Kaja et al. 2025

The “what” and “why” of physical education: Exploring K-12 stakeholders’ perceptions - Fan & McMullen, 2025

#In Other News

DAIGON Esports are gearing up to host the School Esports World Championships in Malta later in 2025. Bringing together the best teams from COBIS, ECIS, BSME and ISA competitions, it takes place between the 8th and 12th of October.

The School Esports World Championships are a competitive esports tournament where teams of students aged 9-16 battle it out in popular games Minecraft CTF and Rocket League, and there is still time to enter and try to qualify.

Its been a busy week all round by the looks of it. As we speed towards the spring break and thoughts turn to exams and summer sports, make sure to take some time to rest and recharge after a long term.

I'll be back again next week - Remember I really want to showcase your successes, achievements and celebrations, so please tag me in your posts or send me your news so I can include it next week!

Stay amazing PE People

Phil