Everyone’s watching.’ Examining the reluctance shown by some children to participate in primary physical education and sports day

Abstract

This study, based on the views of 29 primary children (aged 10–11 years) and five school practitioners, explores why some children are reluctant to engage with physical education and sports day. Drawing upon a children’s rights and meaningful physical education framework, the findings suggest that some children are disinclined to participate due to concerns about getting injured, failing, and anxiety about being watched. Children with special educational needs are most likely to feel uncomfortable, but even those who excel at physical education can have aspects that they would like to adjust. This study asserts that practitioners who respond to children’s voices and adopt ‘meaningful physical education’ pedagogy are more likely to ‘bring in’ reluctant children. Not only do such approaches amplify the voices of underrepresented pupils, but they are also more likely to result in ‘PE reluctant’ children developing positive dispositions about movement experiences, which will hopefully continue in adulthood.