Numeracy Development in PE (Wales)

“There is less emphasis on the development of numeracy and ICT skills within PE with the main ‘key skills’ that are embedded within the majority of lessons being communication & thinking skills” (p.3).

Last year, an ESTYN (2012) report into Physical Education highlighted how numeracy wasn’t always priority in Welsh schools. Reflecting on my own practice, I realised that I struggled to incorporate numeracy when teaching certain areas of PE. With ESTYN’s findings in mind, I wanted to find out how other PE teachers promote these skills in the hope of gaining some ideas.

A recent Masters level assignment gave me this opportunity and allowed me to focus my attention on ‘Numeracy’, looking at how and where teachers develop their pupils’ skills within PE. A focus group, consisting predominantly of PE teachers, spent around an hour sharing how they incorporate numeracy within the PE curriculum for Wales. Some of the results appeared quite obvious, for example, measuring distances in a shot-putt lesson, however, some stimulated thought and have highlighted areas that I previously wouldn't have realised numeracy could be incorporated.

The table below shows the results from the focus group in relation to areas of the KS3 curriculum for PE in Wales and the numeracy strands identified by the Welsh Government.