Gender issues in health-related exercise

Abstract

This article focuses on gender issues arising in research that explored physical education (PE) teachers’ attitudes and approaches relating to the teaching of healthrelated exercise (HRE) within the National Curriculum for Physical Education (NCPE) in England. Data are reported that reveal notable differences between female and male PE heads of departments in their development of HRE in the NCPE, and variations in the HRE programmes provided for girls and boys. The article addresses the implications of the research findings for physical education teachers and teacher educators and makes recommendations with respect to changes that are required if physical educators are to develop more equitable educational practices and environments. The article also draws attention to the insights that the research provides into the complexities of policy, curriculum and pedagogical change and, specifically, factors underpinning variations in implementation of policy, and stabilities in the practices of physical education over time.