Re-thinking adventurous activities in physical education: models-based approaches

ABSTRACT

Adventurous activities are established as an integral aspect of The National Curriculum for 5–16-year-olds. Securing a place in the curriculum provides adventurous activities with an unparalleled opportunity to reach more pupils than any other form of delivery during these formative years. However, little consideration has been given to adventurous activities as curriculum pedagogy in recent years. This paper refers to an alternative models-based approach to teaching and learning that presents adventurous activities with the best opportunity to fully realise the specific contribution it makes to young people’s physical education learning. Secondly, it considers key challenges a models-based approach to adventurous activities might present for schools and teachers and suggests ways to build a rigorous evidence base to underpin its continued inclusion as an essential component of physical education.

KEYWORDS:

• Adventurous activities
• physical education
• curriculum
• models-based approaches
• evidenced-led learning outcomes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrew Williams

Dr Andrew Williams is programme director for MA Outdoor Education and Head of Research for the Wales Academy for Physical Literacy at UWTSD, Carmarthen which focuses on the development and research of programmes that support lifelong active lifestyles in both the curriculum and the wider community.

Nalda Wainwright

Dr Nalda Wainwright is Director of the Wales Academy for Physical Literacy and programme director for MA Physical Education, Sport and Physical Literacy at UWTSD, Carmarthen.