How to teach a good PE lesson

“Children running around with smiley, happy faces does not make a PE lesson good.”

I was told this while shadowing an observation of a primary colleague, and it’s a statement I’ve reflected on many times.

Teaching a good PE lesson is as refined and deliberate as teaching any other subject — but it’s not a mystery. This blog explores what helps us teach PE effectively, ensuring pupils make the progress they need… while still smiling!

Get Pupils Active Quickly

PE lessons are short - and so are children’s attention spans. Harness their natural enthusiasm by getting them involved in meaningful activity as soon as possible.

If your main objectives require a longer explanation, start with a simple, fun, but relevant activity. Pupils can get moving, burn some energy, and then return to you ready to listen. The benefits of quick engagement include:

• Setting a positive tone for learning
• Reducing disruptive behaviour
• Maximising time for skill development
• Boosting pupils' fitness through increased active time

Differentiate Learning Activities

A good PE lesson includes all learners. Every child should work toward the same learning outcome, but how they get there may differ — that’s where effective differentiation comes in.

In PE, a child’s success depends not just on physical ability, but also on their cognitive and emotional readiness — we refer to this as head, hand, and heart.

A good PE lesson can be differentiated by using the STEP method.  If we change the Space, Task, Equipment or People involved in an activity, it can increase the chances of success for those taking part. (We have more on STEP in this blog.)

Example: If the goal is to “swim one width without feet touching the bottom,” a beginner may need armbands and two hands on a float, while a more confident swimmer might manage with just one hand on a float. The task remains the same, but the approach is tailored to meet specific needs.

Focus on Progress

In a good physical education lesson, children are improving, and progress means more than physical proficiency. It includes:

• Developing teamwork
• Engaging in fair competition
• Understanding how to lead a healthy, active life

Ask yourself: What does progress look like across an activity, a single lesson, and over time? Pupils should be able to describe their own progress and show it to others.

Encourage Connections Across Learning

Good PE teaching helps pupils make links between concepts and contexts. This doesn’t just mean recalling last week’s lesson - it’s about drawing thoughtful comparisons.

Example: Pupils may notice how defending strategies apply in both netball and football, or use a dance technique that worked in gymnastics. This kind of thinking builds a foundation for lifelong physical literacy.

Maximise Time on Activity

There is no substitute for it, time on activity is essential when learning new skills, developing mindset and honing interpersonal skills.  Unfortunately, teacher-led input can account for as high as 70% of some PE lessons, which detracts from the activity-based learning approach.

To develop and master skills, children must be able to try, fail, repeat and refine.  Teacher intervention should be only when necessary and for the pupils who need it.  Avoid at all costs stopping the class and sitting them down to labour a point.

Before you stop children, think, is what you’re about to say or show going to add to their learning or can they find out for themselves with a few prompts or through trial and error?

Aim for 20% teacher speak and 80% activity time.  A few ways to help you achieve this are:

• Only stopping small groups at a time and allowing others to continue play/participate in activity
• ‘Stop, stand still’ - make your point and allow the class/group/individual to continue, there is no need to stop everyone and sit them down
• Peer review with small groups or pairs rather than the whole class watching and feeding back, its more effective

Finally, see below our 10 top tips for what makes a great PE lesson.

Top 10 Tips to Teach Great PE Lessons

1.     Be Organised
Have equipment ready, safe, and set up. Deliver objectives before heading out and plan ahead for hall use.

2.     Set the Scene
Create excitement. Use stories, comparisons, or real-world links to preview the lesson.

3.     Start with Activity
Get pupils moving straight away to boost focus, reduce behaviour issues, and increase fitness.

4.     Differentiate Effectively
Use the STEP method (Space, Task, Equipment, People) to meet diverse needs.

5.     Maximise Time on Task
Keep teacher talk brief. Aim for 80% activity using small-group stops and peer feedback.

6.     Provide Challenge
Set high expectations with flexible tasks that all pupils can succeed in, at their own level.

7.     Teach the Whole Child
Plan for physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development — Head, Hand, Heart.

8.     Use Demonstrations
Let pupils demo skills, even imperfectly, do they have any PE ideas? Add 3–4 key points they can remember and use.

9.     Check Understanding Often
Use questions, prompts, and live demonstrations to assess learning throughout the lesson.

10.  Be a Role Model
Dress the part and model the behaviours you expect. Build trust and strong relationships through PE.

Wishing you the best for your next PE lesson.  Share with us what happens, you can find us on Twitter @thepehub or on our Facebook page.