Realising curriculum possibilities in Wales: teachers’ initial experiences of re-imagining secondary physical education

Abstract

This paper provides insight into secondary Physical Education (PE) teachers’ experiences of beginning to re-imagine secondary physical education provision in light of the new Curriculum for Wales, 2022 (CfW). Data were generated through analysis of semi-structured interviews (n = 5) with secondary PE teachers who participated in three workshops which uses a design-thinking methodology. Informed by Ball and colleagues’ conceptualisation of policy work, findings draw attention towards how engagement in the workshops provided a foundation for the participants to begin interpretation and translation of the new CfW and consider re-imagining existing PE provision within the school context. Participants’ interpretations of the new CfW centred around health and physical activity provision which were shaped by a connection with a range of health and physical activity stakeholders. This enabled participants to translate their ideas from the workshops into pedagogical practices within the school context. The paper concludes by suggesting secondary PE teacher’s realisation of the new CfW would be enhanced through opportunities to further integrate disciplinary ideas from health, sport, physical activity, and education across national and global contexts.