Our research shows that by allowing students to wear their PE uniforms all day on PE days, schools can help reduce girls’ anxiety, increase physical activity and give teachers more time to teach.
We piloted this cost-free change across 12 schools and the results were clear…
- 59% of girls said it created more opportunities to be active throughout the school day, whilst 61% said it helped them be them more active in PE lessons.
- These impacts were felt even by girls who have never considered themselves sporty, with almost half saying the change had helped them be more active.
- One in four girls reported feeling less anxious or worried about getting changed in front of others, while 60% said they enjoyed PE more as a result of the policy.
- 88% of PE teachers said the policy meant they had more time to teach.
Read the full report here to discover what else we found.
Write to the Department for Education
This September, we want to share our findings with the Department for Education and make the Government aware of the powerful impact this policy can have.
If you want to add your voice to our ask, please download our letter template below and share it with the Department for Education and/or your MP.
Tips to make your message stand out
- You can contact the Department for Education here: Contact the Department for Education – GOV.UK – Contact type
- We’ve provided a template message you can use, but please do personalise it if you have a positive experience of the Fit to Learn policy. The more unique your message is the more impact it will have.
- All Women in Sport supporters are lovely so we don’t need to tell you to be polite in your message, but please do! Being rude or abusive helps no one.
- We’ve also included a message you could send to your MP. You can find their contact details here: Find your MP – MPs and Lords – UK Parliament If you contact your MP, make sure you include your full address, including postcode, at the end of the email so they know you are one of their constituents.
- If you get a reply to your message(s), please let us know. You can forward your response to our Policy and Public Affairs Manager Rachel on rachel@womeninsport.org
Read more...
Fit to Learn, Free to Play
The impact of wearing PE uniform all day on PE days at school
Reframing Sport for Teenage Girls: Tackling Teenage Disengagement
Too many girls are disengaging from sport and exercise in their teens. Read our research to understand the challenges and how we can overcome them.