Northside students set to study PE for the Leaving Cert

A NUMBER of Northside schools have been chosen to be amongst the first in the country to officially study PE as a Leaving Certificate subject.

It’s the first phase of new programmes under which 80 schools around the country will implement PE either as an exam subject or under the new Senior Cycle Physical Education Framework where no exam is held.

A total of 369 schools applied to participate in the programmes that will see Leaving Cert students marked on a physical activity project (20 per cent), performance assessment (30 per cent) and a written examination (50 per cent).

Students taking the new Leaving Certificate subject from September 2018 will sit the first Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE) exam in 2020. The subject can be taken at both higher and ordinary levels.

The new Senior Cycle Physical Education (SCPE) Framework, will provide a new modern curriculum for teachers to teach PE to all students at senior cycle through six curriculum models such as health related physical activity, sport education and teaching games.

Local schools taking part in the programme include Castleknock Community College, Dominican College on Griffith Avenue, Holy Family School for the Deaf on Navan Road, Le Cheile Secondary School, Tyrellstown, St Aidan's in Whitehall, Trinity Comprehensive School in Ballymun and Scoil Phobail Chuil Mhin in Dublin 15.

Minister for Education, Richard Bruton, announced details of the new programmes at Our Lady Of Mercy College in Beaumont.

“Physical activity is so important for our overall wellbeing, not just our physical fitness but for our mental health too,” he said.

“Participation in sports is also fantastic for developing a person’s confidence and team work skills. That’s why I am delighted to announce the schools who are participating in Phase One of Physical Education for the Leaving Certificate – both as an examinable subject and the non-examinable Framework.

“This was an important commitment in the Action Plan for Education and is in line with this government’s overall emphasis on promoting healthy lifestyles.”

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said he was pleased that Castleknock Community College in his constituency had been chosen to be included in the first phase of the roll out.

"We hope that it can be rolled out to every school nationwide by 2020," he added.

"Castleknock Community College has a new sports hall which I had the pleasure of opening last year. I am delighted that it will now be put to even better use.

“The introduction of Leaving Cert PE will far-reaching benefits, not only for the health of young people in Ireland but also as a means of diversifying the subject choice for leaving certificate candidates. It’s particularly exciting for students with a passion for sport, but I also believe it will encourage more students to make physical activity a part of their school routine.

"I am delighted that a local school, Castleknock Community College, is included in the list of pilot schools and I look forward to hearing how students and teachers are getting on.”