Outsourcing Physical Education in Schools

What and Why Do Schools Outsource to External Providers

Bibliographic Data

ID5285489
AuthorsSharna Spittle (Victoria University, corresponding author), Michael Spittle (0000-0002-6094-5087, Victoria University), Sho Itoh (0000-0002-4034-1198, Victoria University)
Year2022
Volume4
Pages854617-854617
Publication date2022-07-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Sports and Active Living (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2624-9367 • E-ISSN: 2624-9367
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fspor.2022.854617
PMID35903400
OpenAlexW4285024126
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited42

This study explored the process of acquiring services from external providers by schools as a form of outsourcing of physical education activities. Physical education is a learning area that is more susceptible to outsourcing than most learning areas due in part to the availability of a range of external providers as well a perceived lack of specialist knowledge and training in physical education in teacher education. Surveys were completed by 280 schools, including primary and secondary schools in Victoria Australia. Most schools (75%) outsourced some components of physical education, with primary schools (78.1%) significantly more likely to outsource than secondary schools (59.5%) (p < 0.05). Areas of physical education most often outsourced were swimming and outdoor education, as well as lifestyle activities, gymnastics, and dance; these areas did differ significantly (p < 0.05) for primary and secondary schools, and based on the size of the schools and the number of physical education staff. Common reasons for outsourcing were to access expertise, to access equipment or facilities, and to provide access to experiences, with reasons differing significantly (p < 0.05) between secondary and primary schools and based on the number of physical education staff. The main barriers to outsourcing were financial cost, followed by timetabling issues, external provider availability, and transport to the activity. Barriers did differ significantly (p < 0.05) for school location (metropolitan, regional, and rural), size of school, number of physical education staff, and between primary and secondary schools. The schools typically preferred the external provider to come to the school (62.5%) rather than using facilities of the external provider, with outsourcing most often funded by students paying per activity (64.9%), but preferences did differ significantly (p < 0.05) between primary and secondary schools, and based on school size and the number of physical education staff. This study highlights that outsourcing of physical education is a common practice and that there are differences in the practice for primary and secondary schools, which may impact teacher education in physical education

Business · Medical education · Metropolitan area · Outsourcing · Pedagogy · Physical education · Primary education · Disability Education and Employment · Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport · Medicine · Physical Education and Pedagogy · Psychology · Marketing