Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport (PEPAS)
Physical activity in education plays a crucial role in promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people. The Scottish Government is committed to schools delivering at least two hours of PE for all pupils in primary school, and at least two periods of PE for all pupils between S1-4. This ensures that students have regular opportunities to be physically active and learn new skills.
In Scottish schools, physical activity is incorporated into the curriculum through Physical Education classes. These classes aim to develop students’ physical literacy, which includes skills, knowledge, and confidence to participate in a range of physical activities. PE classes focus on developing fundamental movement skills, such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching, as well as more specialised skills related to various sports and activities.
In addition to PE classes, schools in Scotland promote physical activity through various initiatives and extracurricular activities. This may include sports clubs, intramural competitions, and after-school programs that allow students to participate in a wide range of sports and physical activities.
The Scottish government has set targets to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity among children and young people. Schools are encouraged to provide opportunities for students to be physically active throughout the school day, including active play during break times and integrating physical activity into classroom lessons whenever possible.
Dumfries and Galloway School Physical Activity Survey (DGSPAS)
The Dumfries and Galloway Schools Physical Activity (DGSPAS) Survey was first issued to schools in 2013 to measure physical activity levels and behaviours of local children and young people. The 2024 DGSPAS is the seventh version of the survey dating back to 2013. The DGSPAS provides long term surveillance data on the proportion of children and young people locally meeting physical activity guidelines. The survey was open to all pupils from P4 to S6. You can read the Regional Summary Results at:
2024 Dumfries and Galloway School Physical Activity Survey Regional Summary Evaluation Results
2022 Dumfries and Galloway School Physical Activity Survey Regional Summary Evaluation Results
