PE-ED OFF

by Alexa Brown

Square One News

The University of Edinburgh has been criticised by P.E. teachers after it admitted that over 250 postgraduate P.E. teaching applicants are turned away every year.

Over 100 undergraduate Physical Education students are enrolled at the University every year, but this large number means that there are only 20 places left each session for older and more experienced postgraduate students, according to Edinburgh University's head of postgraduate P.E., Dr John Sproule.

Lynsey Anderson, a full-time P.E. teacher at Earlston High School and an Edinburgh University graduate said: "I think these figures are shocking. It means that lots of older people, who may have a good degree and teaching experience, have less chance of becoming a teacher than a 17 year-old who may not be sure that they even want to be a teacher."

Dr Sproule stated that Scottish Universities may need to consider an admissions system similar to the one currently operating in England, where undergraduate P.E. applicants are offered half of the places available and the other half are offered to postgraduates: "We take on 100 undergraduate students each year, and this figure drops down to around 80 when they graduate. In the postgraduate programme, that simply doesn't happen. There is a need for a policy change."

Anna Potter, a Sports Science student who applied to study a postgraduate P.E. teaching degree at Edinburgh University last year was shocked by the limited number of places available. She said: "When I applied this year, there were hundreds of other applicants. Out of those only 60 got interviews, and only 20 were offered places. I've been coaching sport and working with children for four years and still can't get a place."

There were also calls from teachers and Universities for more money to be spent on physical education in schools. At present, private schools in Scotland can have as many as fifteen full-time P.E. teachers, whereas most state schools tend to only employ around six or seven.