This article investigates the notion of subject choice in physical education and the factors that encouraged or discouraged students from studying Higher Grade Physical Education (HGPE). The increase in the type and number of school subjects students are now able to choose from is addressed as is the pressure that market-based reforms of state schooling have put on teachers to attract students to their particular subjects. The affective and utilitarian reasons that Woods (1984) has reported as affecting subject choice are used to frame the issue of subject choice in physical education (PE) and the subsequent discussion of results. Results are reported from two groups of students (17 to 18 years old) from one Scottish secondary state-run school. One group had chosen to study HGPE while the other group had chosen not to. Affective factors such as liking or disliking the subject area and utilitarian factors such as the perceived usefulness of the subject in pursuing a particular career were found to be important reasons for choosing (or not) HGPE. Students’ expectations of examinable PE and teachers’ promotion of such an opportunity are identified as two issues that require further research.
Adnett, N. and Davies, P. (2000) ‘Competition and Curriculum Diversity in Local Schooling Markets: Theory and Evidence’, Journal of Education Policy15(2): 157–167.
2.
Bairner, N. (1993) ‘Physical Education in S3 and S4’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education21(1): 20–22.
3.
Biddle, S. (1999) ‘The Motivation of Pupils in Physical Education’, in C. Hardy and M. Mawer (eds) Learning and Teaching in Physical Education, pp. 105–125. London: Falmer.
4.
Boyd, B. (1997) ‘The Statutory Years of Secondary Education: Change and Progress’, in M.M. Clark and P. Munn (eds) Education in Scotland: Policy and Practice from Pre-school to Secondary,pp. 52–66. London: Routledge.
5.
Cairney, J. (1993) ‘Physical Education in S3 and S4’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education21(1): 22–24.
6.
Carroll, B. (1994) Assessment in Physical Education: A Teacher’s Guide to the Issues. London: Falmer.
7.
Carroll, B. (1995) ‘Examinations in Physical Education and Sport: Gender Differences and Influences on Subject Choice’, in L. Lawrence, E. Murdoch and S. Parker (eds) Professional and Development Issues in Leisure, Sport and Education, pp. 59–71. Brighton: LSA.
8.
Carroll, B. (1998) ‘The Emergence and Growth of Examinations in Physical Education’, in K. Green and K. Hardman (eds) Physical Education: A Reader, pp. 335–352. Oxford: Meyer & Meyer Sport.
9.
Carroll, B. and Loumidis, J. (2000) ‘Children’s Perceived Competence and Enjoyment in Physical Education and Physical Activity outside School’, European Physical Education Review6: 24–41.
10.
Cherrie, K. (1993) ‘Physical Education in S5 and S6’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education21(2): 21–22.
11.
Clark, M.M. (1997) ‘Education in Scotland: Setting the Scene’, in M.M. Clark and P. Munn (eds) Education in Scotland: Policy and Practice from Pre-school to Secondary, pp. 1–18. London: Routledge.
12.
Colley, A. (1998) ‘Gender and Subject Choice in Secondary Education’, in J. Radford (ed.)Gender and Choice in Education and Occupation, pp. 18–36. London: Routledge.
13.
Colley, A. , Comber, C. and Hargreaves, D.J. (1994) ‘School Subject Preferences of Pupils in Single Sex and Co-educational Secondary Schools’, Educational Studies20: 379–385.
14.
Cooper, J. (1995) ‘Why are Girls Under-represented in Standard Grade Physical Education in Scottish Schools?’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education23(2): 28–38.
15.
Darling, J. and Glendinning, A. (1996) Patterns of Subject Choice: A Local Study. London: Cassell.
16.
Dickenson, B. and Sparkes, A. (1988) ‘Pupil Definitions of Physical Education’, British Journal of Physical Education Research Supplement2(2): 6–7.
17.
Elliot, D. and Ganson, H. (1999) ‘SEB Findings on Scottish Achievements’, in T.G.K. Bryce and W.M. Humes (eds) Scottish Education, pp. 747–757. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
18.
Evans, J. , Penney, D. and Davies, B. (1996) ‘Back to the Future: Education Policy and Physical Education’, in N. Armstrong (ed.) New Directions in Physical Education, pp. 1–18. London: Cassell.
19.
Fisher, S. (1991) ‘Justifying, Promoting and Establishing Qualifications in Physical Education’,Bulletin of Physical Education27(2): 25–30.
20.
Forsyth, S. (1994) ‘Thoughts on the First Year of Higher Grade Physical Education’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education22(3): 5–11.
21.
Gewirtz, S. (1996) ‘Choice, Competition, and Equity: Lessons from Research in the United Kingdom’, Journal of Curriculum and Supervision11(3): 205–228.
22.
Goudas, M. and Biddle, S. (1993) ‘Pupil Perceptions of Enjoyment in Physical Education’, Physical Education Review16(2): 145–150.
23.
Green, K. (2001) ‘Examinations in Physical Education: A Sociological Perspective on a “New Orthodoxy”’, British Journal of Sociology of Education22(1): 51–73.
24.
Green, K. and Hardman, K. (1998) ‘Introduction’, in K. Green and K. Hardman (eds) Physical Education: A Reader, pp. 11–13. Oxford: Meyer & Meyer Sport.
25.
Hardman, K. (1998) ‘To Be or Not to Be? The Present and Future of School Physical Education in International Context’, in K. Green and K. Hardman (eds) Physical Education: A Reader, pp. 353–382. Oxford: Meyer & Meyer Sport.
26.
Harvey, T.J. (1984) ‘Gender Differences in Subject Preference and Perception of Subject Importance among Third Year Secondary School Pupils in Single-Sex and Mixed Comprehensive Schools’, Educational Studies10(3): 243–253.
27.
Hendry, L. (1978) School, Sport and Leisure: Three Dimensions of Adolescence. London: Lepus Books.
28.
Ikulayo, P.B. (1983) ‘Attitudes of Girls towards Physical Education’, Physical Education Review6: 24–25.
29.
Kirk, D. (1988) Physical Education and Curriculum Study: A Critical Introduction. London: Croom Helm.
30.
Lake, J. (2000) ‘Young People’s Conceptions of Sport, Physical Education and Exercise: Implications for Physical Education and the Promotion of Health-Related Exercise’, European Physical Education Review6: 80–91.
31.
Laws, I. and Fisher, R. (1999) ‘Pupils’ Interpretations of Physical Education’, in C.A. Hardy and M. Mawer (eds) Learning and Teaching in Physical Education, pp. 23–37. London: Falmer.
32.
Ledingham, D. (1989) ‘Physical Education in the Year 2000’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education17(2): 11–12 and 24-24.
33.
McConachie-Smith, J. (1996) ‘Physical Education at Key Stage 4’, in N. Armstrong (ed.) New Directions in Physical Education, pp. 82–93. London: Cassell.
34.
MacCorquodale, A. (1993) ‘Physical Education in S5 and S6’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education21(2): 22–24.
35.
Macdonald, D. , Kirk, D. and Braiuka, S. (1999) ‘The Social Construction of the Physical Activity Field at School/University Interface’, European Physical Education Journal5: 31–51.
36.
McFarlane, J. (1993) ‘Physical Education in S5 and S6’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education21(2): 24–27.
37.
MacPhail, A. (2001) ‘Nominal Group Technique: A Useful Method for Working with Young People’, British Educational Research Journal27: 161–170.
38.
Munn, P. (1997) ‘Standards and Quality’, in M.M. Clark and P. Munn (eds) Education in Scotland: Policy and Practice from Pre-school to Secondary, pp. 115–124. London: Routledge.
39.
Murdoch, E. (1986) ‘Future Trends in the Physical Education Curriculum’, British Journal of Physical Education17: 83–86.
40.
O’Neil, M.J. (1981) ‘Nominal Group Technique: An Evaluation Data Collection Process’, Evaluation Newsletter5(2): 44–60.
41.
Paechter, C. (2001) Changing School Subjects: Power, Gender and Curriculum. Buckingham: Open University Press.
42.
Paterson, E. (1993) ‘Physical Education in S3 and S4’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education21(1): 24–26.
43.
Paterson, L. (1999) ‘Educational Provision: An Overview’, in T.G.K. Bryce and W.M. Humes (eds) Scottish Education, pp. 17–26. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
44.
Penney, D. and Kirk, D. (1998) Evaluation of the Trial-Pilot Senior Syllabus in Physical Education in Queensland Secondary Schools. Queensland: Board of Senior Secondary School Studies.
45.
Piotrowski, S. and Capel, S. (2000) ‘Formal and Informal Modes of Assessment in Physical Education’, in S. Capel and S. Piotrowski (eds) Issues in Physical Education, pp. 99–114. London: Routledge Falmer.
46.
Pratt, J. , Bloomfield, J. and Seale, C. (1984) Option Choice: A Question of Equal Opportunity. Windsor: NFER–Nelson.
47.
Raffe, D. (1997) ‘Upper-Secondary Education’, in M.M. Clark and P. Munn (eds) Education in Scotland: Policy and Practice from Pre-school to Secondary, pp. 67–80. London: Routledge.
48.
Ramsay, J. (1996) ‘Undergraduate Degrees in Physical Education, Sport, Health and Leisure Studies’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education24(1): 21–27.
49.
Sanderson, P. (2001) ‘Age and Gender Issues in Adolescent Attitudes to Dance’, European Physical Education Review7: 117–136.
50.
Scottish Examination Board (1993) Arrangements in Physical Education: Scottish Certificate of Education Higher Grade.Dalkeith: SEB.
Scottish Examination Board (1997) SEB Research 7: Subject Choice at Higher Grade. Presentations and Success. Dalkeith: SEB.
53.
Scottish Office (1994) Higher Still: Opportunity for All.Edinburgh: The Scottish Office.
54.
Scottish Qualifications Authority (1996) Gender Bias in the Assessment of Physical Education Practical Performance. Report for research division–summary. Dalkeith: SQA.
Stables, A. (1997) ‘Perspectives on Subject Choice: The Case for a Humane Liberalism in Curriculum Planning’, Journal of Curriculum Studies29: 197–208.
57.
Stables, A. and Stables, S. (1995) ‘Gender Differences in Students’ Approaches to A-Level Subject Choices and Perceptions of A-Level Subjects: A Study of First-Year A-Level Students in a Tertiary College’, Educational Research37: 39–51.
58.
Thomson, I. (1993) ‘Physical Education in Scotland, 1973–93’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education21(2): 4–14.
59.
Thorburn, M. (1999) ‘“Is it Real Physical Education Today?”: Knowledge and Understanding in Standard Grade, Higher and Higher Still Physical Education’, Scottish Journal of Physical Education27(1): 19–29.
60.
Walford, G. (ed.) (1996) ‘School Choice and the Quasi-Market’, Oxford Studies in Comparative Education6(1).
61.
Warton, P.M. and Cooney, G.H. (1997) ‘Information and Choice of Subjects in the Senior School’, British Journal of Guidance and Counselling25(3): 389–397.
62.
Whitehead, J. (1996) ‘Sex Stereotypes, Gender Identity and Subject Choice at A-Level’, Educational Research38(2): 147–160.
63.
Woods, P. (1984) ‘The Myth of Subject Choice’, in M. Hammersley and P. Woods (eds) Lifein School: The Sociology of Popular Culture,pp. 45–60. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
64.
Woollam, S. (1979) ‘The Case against Examinations in Physical Education in British Council of Physical Education’, in Assessment of Physical Education in Schools and Colleges, pp. 28–30. Milton-under-Wychwood: I. K. Glaister.
65.
Zastrow, C. and Navarre, R. (1977) ‘The Nominal Group: A New Tool for Making Social Work Education Relevant’, Journal of Education for Social Work13(1): 112–118.
