Research Impact: The current study found persisting challenges such as the provision of physical education classes by non-specialist teachers, failure to attain the Department of Education physical education recommendations, lack of prioritization of physical education class and provision of curricular activities that do not serve the true range envisioned under the physical education strands. Despite the adoption of a variety of policies that advocate for many components of school physical education, physical activity and sports provision, and, indeed, a systems-wide, whole-school approach to physical activity, paralleled with significant investment, a gap between policy and practice is evident. Future research should consider addressing such gaps via strategies that adequately prioritize and successfully implement the aforementioned pillars of school provision, namely, physical education, physical activity and sports effectively, for the betterment of adolescent health. Furthermore, the standardized framework for evaluation of school physical education, physical activity and sports using a validated provision evaluation index should facilitate future international comparisons to highlight best practice and indicators in need of addressing.
Rocliffe, P., O’Keeffe, B.T., Sherwin, I., Mannix-McNamara, P., & MacDonncha, C. (2023). A National Audit of Typical Secondary School Provision of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sports in the Republic of Ireland. Education Sciences, 13(7), 699. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13070699
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