Benefits and Challenges of External Provision for Physical Education

• In Event: Research on Learning and Instruction in Physical Education Poster Session

Abstract

Physical Education (PE) external provision primary schools has increased rapidly to the extent that such a service is perceived by the key stakeholders as a legitimized part of PE discourses (Petrie et al., 2014). The purpose of this study was to understand the key stakeholders’ perspective regarding the process of the PE external provision in Irish primary schools. Two main themes emerged: “meeting curricular needs” and “recruitment and promotion”, which suggest a contrasting perception among stakeholders of the purpose of the external provision system in schools. Providing a positive and meaningful learning experience to students is not the exclusive goal of external provision because many external providers consider students as a commodity to achieve their desired promotion and recruitment outcomes.

Authors

• Jessica Mangione, Edge Hill University

• Melissa Parker, University of Limerick

• Mary O' Sullivan, University of Limerick