module specification

This module sets out to combine an academic study of the relations between sport, education and society, with a pragmatic desire to explore sport in school, commensurate with wider educational objectives.  Whilst the themes examined are general ones, they are explored with specific reference to a range of team and individual sport and physical activities, such as athletics, cricket, football, weightlifting, tennis, swimming, boxing, gymnastics and various exercise classes.  At "national", world and Olympic games some of these offer valuable perspectives upon the place of sport in education and wider society.  Furthermore the relation between them and their changing social construction is, in itself, a fertile area of inquiry.

The module is divided into three blocks:

• the first explores an historical perspective on the meaning and development of modern sport, and its place in education and society.  Furthermore, it is concerned with relations to broader social and economic change and the implications of ‘race’ and social class for men and women’s, differing engagement with sports activity;
• the second examines the role of sport in leisure and recreation;
• the third offers an opportunity to define and deploy a critical perspective upon sport and its place in the curriculum, educational practice and the relation to national life.

This module aims:

• To offer an historical perspective upon the relationship between sport, education and society;
• To encourage a critical examination of the relationship between play, games and sport and their respective relations to educational ideologies;
• To explore current controversial dimensions to sport in education and in schools;
• To become familiar with recent initiatives from government and sporting bodies to regenerate sport in schools and offer a critical perspective on them;
• To attempt a critical evaluation of sport and its place in the curriculum as a core aspect of educational practice and purpose.

The module is divided into three blocks:

1. Policy, curriculum and the practice of sport in education
2. Recreation and leisure
3. The broad social issues and their implications for education and schooling.

The module will examine:

conflicts surrounding the role of sport in society and “social aims” associated with it; histories of sport in education; the ideological construction of sport; competition and educational objectives; gender, participation and access; moral discourses in sport; ‘race’ and identity; social class and the commercialisation of sport; policy and the sport curriculum; PE and sport in the National Curriculum; sport in school and community settings – visits scheduled in Enhancement Week 24.

Students will be expected to make visits to a selected community-based sports’ development agency or leisure facility and evaluate the educational programme offered as preparation for Assessment B.

The module will be taught through scheduled sessions supported by on-line presence.  These sessions will take the form of seminars and workshops.  There will also be field visits.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

Students successfully completing this module will be able to:

1. demonstrate that they have gained knowledge about the school context and the provision of sport in the wider community; A2, A3

2. demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between sport, education and society within historical and sociological perspectives; A2

3. demonstrate a critical understanding of the current issues in the module; A3

4. demonstrate critical awareness of sport and its place in contemporary education and society.  A1

New Assessment Strategy:

Select a ‘sport’ or ‘physical activity’ and critically evaluate the challenges and opportunities to develop this through formal or informal education.

Choose from one of the following questions below:

1. Reflect on your participation in that sport or physical activity

2. Research into the provision for that sport or physical activity in a local centre

3. Evaluate policy and practice within that sport

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Arnold, P. (1997), Sport, Ethics and Education, London: Cassell

Bloyce, D., (2009), Sport, Policy and Development, London: Routledge

Capel, S. and Piotrowski, S. (2000) Issues in P.E., London: Routledge

Cashmore, E. (2005) Making Sense of Sports, London: Routledge

Coakley, J. (2009) Sport in Society: Issues and Controversies, London: McGraw-Hill

Coakley, J. and Dunning, E. (2002), Handbook of Sports Studies, London: Sage

Collins, M. and Kay, T. (2003), Sport and Social Exclusion, London: Routledge

Edwards, A. and Hassan, D., (eds.)(2012), Sport and the Community, London: Routledge

Horne, J., Tomlinson, A., Whannel, G. and Woodward, K., (2012) Understanding Sport: An Introduction to the Sociological and Cultural Analysis of Sport, London: Routledge

Houlihan, B., (ed.)(2007), Sport and Society: a student introduction, London: Sage

Hylton, K. and Bramham, P., (eds.)(2007) Sports Development: Policy, Process and Practice, London: Routledge

O’Dea, J.A., (2012), Current Issues and Controversies in School and Community Health, Sport and Physical Education, New York: Nova