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article 29 May 2025

What Does Progression Actually Look Like in PE?

What does real progress in PE actually look likeโ€”and why does it matter more than ever? Discover how shifting the focus from elite performance to individual development can transform confidence, engagement, and long-term growth.

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Progression is a word we hear a lot in PE.
But what do we really mean by it?
For some, it still conjures up images of elite performanceโ€”faster times, better scores, more technical skill.

But in most school settings, thatโ€™s not the goal.
Weโ€™re not trying to produce professional athletes.
Weโ€™re trying to help every student get betterโ€”at their own pace, from their own starting point.

Thatโ€™s what progression should be about: individual improvement, not just performance outcomes

So, what does progression look like in action?
Here are three key signs that your students are improving:

๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜…๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† โ€“ Can they perform the same skill in more challenging scenarios?

๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐˜† โ€“ Are they making fewer errors, even under pressure?

๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ โ€“ Are they self-correcting and applying what theyโ€™ve learned?

This is what we build toward in a well-structured PE curriculum.
Itโ€™s not about talentโ€”itโ€™s about development.

Why it matters:
When students see progress, they believe in their ability to improve.
And when that belief is in place, everything changes. Engagement increases. Confidence grows. And students begin to take ownership of their learning.

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Contributors

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Director of Performance Pathways

Martin Brockman is Director of Brockman Athletics, providing teacher training and track and field teaching resources for schools around the world. Representing Great Britain in the decathlon for almost a decade, Martin achieved a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Dehli, 2010. On retiring from his international career, he moved to the world-leading Aspire Academy in Qatar as the Head of Athlete Development where he designed and implemented the academy athletics program from talent identification through to international athletics.

Athletics

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