The Forgotten Curriculum: Why PE Gets Left Behind

Too often, 𝗣𝗘 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗺.”

While subjects like Maths and English are given structure, resources, and clear pathways, PE is sometimes reduced to little more than keeping students busy and active.

The problem? 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗣𝗘 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿. Students may run around, but they don’t build the skills, mindset, or resilience that make sport transformative.

Teachers, meanwhile, are left stretched — expected to plan, coach, and deliver without the same support given to other subjects.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗻

In my career, I’ve seen both extremes.

At world-class academies, 𝗣𝗘 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀. Students had structured pathways, and the results spoke for themselves — better athletes, but also more disciplined learners across the board.

In other schools, despite dedicated teachers, PE lacked direction. Engagement dropped, and students stopped seeing it as a subject of real value.

The difference isn’t talent — 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝗣𝗘 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, year on year

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 to support teachers

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 that elevates staff confidence

When 𝗣𝗘 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹: stronger wellbeing, better behaviour, and students who leave school with more than just memories of games — they leave with skills for life.