September always brings a particular kind of energy to schools. New uniforms, freshly labelled exercise books and pupils trying to remember which classroom they’re supposed to be in. Out on the playground, field or sports hall, PE teachers are preparing for something slightly different.
A new academic year means new classes, new teams and another opportunity to get children excited about being active.
The first few weeks can set the tone for the entire year. Whether you’re teaching Reception pupils taking their first steps into school sport or Year 11 students preparing for their final year, a positive start can make a huge difference.
Here are some ideas for PE teachers preparing to head back to school.
Get the Equipment Cupboard Ready
There are few things more frustrating than planning the perfect lesson only to discover that half the footballs are flat and three of the bibs disappeared sometime around Easter.
Before lessons get properly underway, it’s worth taking stock of your equipment.
Check balls, cones, bibs, rackets, bats and other regularly used items, and make sure everything is safe and ready to go. It’s also a good opportunity to reorganise the equipment cupboard so the things you use most often are easy to reach.
Having equipment organised into bags or containers for different sports can save valuable minutes between lessons, particularly on those days when one class seems to arrive just as another is leaving.
Keep the First Lessons Simple
There can be a temptation to jump straight into your curriculum, but the opening PE lessons of the year are an opportunity to establish expectations.
Simple activities and games can help pupils learn routines while giving teachers a chance to assess their new groups.
How quickly can pupils get changed and ready? Where should they stand when receiving instructions? What happens when the whistle blows? How should equipment be collected and returned?
Establishing those routines early can save hours of repeated instructions over the rest of the year.
For younger pupils in particular, games focusing on movement, teamwork and communication can be a great starting point. They allow children to enjoy being active without placing too much emphasis on sporting ability.
Learn the Names
Every teacher knows the challenge.
You’ve got 30 pupils standing in front of you, you’ve remembered about six names and suddenly everyone seems to be wearing the same PE kit.
Learning names quickly can transform your lessons.
Try incorporating names into activities during the opening weeks. Pupils could call the name of the person they’re passing to, introduce a teammate before a relay or take part in simple name-and-movement games.
Knowing names makes praise more meaningful and instructions much easier. It can also help pupils feel that they belong in your lesson from the very beginning.
Make PE Enjoyable From Day One
Not every child returns to school desperate to play sport.
While some pupils will spend the summer kicking a football around, swimming or attending sports clubs, others may have done very little organised physical activity.
That makes the first few lessons particularly important.
Creating early opportunities for success can help pupils associate PE with enjoyment rather than anxiety. Small-sided games, team challenges, relays and activities where there are several ways to succeed can encourage everyone to participate.
Competition certainly has its place, but winning doesn’t always need to be the focus.
You could challenge pupils to beat their own score, work together to achieve a class target or see how many successful passes a team can complete.
Celebrate More Than Sporting Ability
One of the most powerful things PE can teach children is that success comes in many forms.
The fastest runner or most talented footballer might naturally attract attention, but there are plenty of other achievements worth recognising.
Who encouraged a struggling teammate? Who showed resilience after finding an activity difficult? Who demonstrated great sportsmanship? Who has improved significantly since their first attempt?
Recognising qualities such as teamwork, effort, leadership, determination and kindness can make PE feel accessible to far more pupils.
Schools can reinforce this through weekly awards, certificates, medals or end-of-term presentations celebrating different types of achievement.
A pupil who may never win the 100 metres could still leave PE feeling incredibly proud of what they have accomplished.
Think Ahead to Sports Day
It might feel slightly ridiculous to mention Sports Day when the summer holidays have only just finished, but September is a surprisingly useful time to start thinking ahead.
You don’t need to start painting running lanes just yet, but keeping notes throughout the year can make planning much easier when summer arrives.
Which activities worked particularly well last year? Were there events that created long queues? Did you have enough equipment? Were there enough opportunities for every pupil to participate?
The same applies to inter-house competitions, tournaments and presentation evenings.
A little preparation throughout the year can prevent the frantic rush when the calendar suddenly reaches June.
Give Pupils Something to Work Towards
Children often respond brilliantly when they have a clear target.
That could be representing their house, improving a personal best, earning a PE award or being recognised at the end of a unit.
Displaying achievements can help too. A school trophy cabinet, honours board or collection of class awards creates a visible reminder that effort and achievement are valued.
For some pupils, receiving their first medal or lifting a trophy with their classmates can become one of their strongest memories from school.
Start the Year With Enthusiasm
PE teachers have a unique opportunity.
A brilliant maths lesson might inspire a pupil academically, while a brilliant PE lesson can introduce them to an activity they continue enjoying for the rest of their life.
September is the beginning of that journey for another group of children.
There will inevitably be forgotten kits, rainy afternoons and the occasional missing football along the way. But there will also be personal bests, unlikely victories, new friendships and pupils discovering sports they never knew they enjoyed.
So inflate the footballs, untangle the bibs and get the cones ready.
A brand-new school sporting year is about to begin.