‘We want to, but we can’t’: pre-service teachers’ experiences of learning to teach primary physical education

A growing trend in primary schools recent times has been to outsource Physical Education (PE) external sport and activity providers. The impact of this not yet examined on new teachers entering the profession. Drawing upon Critical Theory, paper aims explore understand pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) school-based experience learning teaching PE. total 625 PSTs took part study, representing a variety routes into teaching. Quantitative data were obtained, identifying number lessons taught by PSTs, their perceived confidence willingness teach. Qualitative also gathered examine contextual factors influencing PSTs’ development. Findings showed that while both willing confident teach PE, over third unable do so. Reasons predominantly attributed curriculum outsourcing low subject priority initial teacher education.