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Welcome to the Debate Project.
In late 2021, a few months after the publication of Is PE in Crisis? by Lee Sullivan, a conversation developed on social media suggesting that a published debate about the role of conceptual learning in PE would be a highly valued resource by the PE community. Conceptual learning in PE is the idea that broader concepts than movement alone can be the explicit intention of a PE lesson and that PE is ideally suited to develop a wide skill set.
In 2021, supported by PE Scholar, Lee Sullivan, Head of PE at Upton Court Grammar School, published both the concept curriculum and also his book Is PE in Crisis?. Lee’s ideas and experiences have been well received by the PE community and numerous schools all over the world are considering the relevance and the application of a curriculum model closer to the concept curriculum.
In response to the concept curriculum and more generally the role of conceptual learning in PE, some PE teachers have challenged the view that concepts, as well as movement itself, should be the intention of PE lessons. As an example, Greg Dryer, co-founder of the miMove app and PE lecturer, published a blog post titled “The Questionable Rise of PE-as-life-coaching”.
All PE teachers will recognise the importance of different opinions and experiences and the value of sharing these for the community. By doing this, teachers become better informed about their own approach to teaching and learning in PE. It is for this reason that I raised the possibility of a published debate on this theme in late 2021.
To the credit of Lee Sullivan and Greg Dryer, both came forward to agree to a public debate. Furthermore, Vik Merrick, Laura Davies, Will Swaithes, Ronnie Heath and Phil Mathe did likewise and, by early January, we had a panel of seven brilliant colleagues that were eager to engage.
The debate is structured with Lee and Greg as the primary debaters. All other contributors played the role of panelists and I was the moderator. We recorded the debate on Tuesday 18th January 2022.
Now, before you read on or engage with the debate, I need to express a health warning: not one of us involved in this project had any experience with professional debating. Whilst we are deeply proud of what you are about to watch/listen to, it is also true that, with hindsight, we could have done it better. For my part as the host and moderator, there are numerous changes that I would like to make to my own involvement given the opportunity. The debate also became heated at times. This has been the source of reflection, stress and anxiety since the debate. I ask colleagues to empathise with this.
So, what am I asking PE teachers to do?
If the debate can provoke these considerations, then it is a highly successful venture that we can all be proud of.
I would like to publicly thank Lee Sullivan and Greg Dryer. Your willingness to engage in this conversation is highly admirable. Thank you also to Vik, Will, Laura, Ronnie and Phil for your involvement. A further thanks to Dr. Liz Durden-Myers for her colleagueship throughout this project. Finally, a big thank you to my co-workers at The EverLearner Ltd. Marta, Elle, Tasha and Mark keep me grounded and have supported me in bringing this project to fruition. Without them, there would be no debate and they are the silent heroes in this publication.
James Simms
Founder of The EverLearner Ltd
PE Teacher
