On Wednesday 17th November, I launched a brand new podcast titled “The Changing Rooms”. As episode one, recorded with Lee Sullivan, hit our social media spaces such as Twitter and YouTube, a conversation began amongst hundreds of PE teachers. The conversation, whilst multifaceted, asked the question "Is PE in Crisis?" Teachers argued for and against this premise, some even going as far as to say that PE, in its traditional sport-focussed structure, is not fit for purpose in 2021.
Lee’s ideas and his writing struck a nerve. One of the most vocal contributors was Phillip Mathe. Phil is the Director of Co-curricular Provision at Brighton Al Ain College in the UAE and is an experienced Head of PE and international PE teacher. Phil is also the author of Happiness Factories, a book that is due to be published early in 2022 and can be seen as the natural follow-up to Lee Sullivan’s 'Is PE in Crisis'?
Phil, by his own description, has an “extreme view” on the future of physical education and argues fervently during our conversation for the need to shift the focus of core PE provision to a holistic approach, seeing sport and movement in general as the vehicle for the development of crucial life skills that will serve students well in a continually changing world.
Phil asks and answers fundamental questions such as:
➡️ “Without neglecting physical literacy, where else can we take our subject?”
➡️ “How can we make physical education the central theme of everything that a school does?”
➡️ “How can we embed physical education in the fabric of the school?
My interview with Phil is guaranteed to challenge PE teachers to reconsider their “why?” and will generate opinion and debate. This is exactly what Phil wants.
Please, listen to our show, like, subscribe and share. All PE teachers need to be aware of these conversations and you, the PE teacher reading this post, are the vehicle to achieving that.
Thank you.