Mapping physical education in Northern Ireland: exploring the structure and discourses of the PE curriculum in a segregated school system

This paper is the first study that exclusively explores the structure and discourses evident within the physical education (PE) curriculum in Northern Ireland (NI). In doing so, it highlights the opportunities and challenges of the PE curriculum within this unique segregated school system, addressing a gap in the literature. For decades, research has recognised that many PE curricula are organised and delivered around units of games with a focus on the skill/sport performance. This study utilised a discourse analysis to identify the key discourses within curriculum documents whilst also drawing on the work of Penney and Chandler to explore the structure of the curriculum and how it, along with contextual factors, shapes the opportunities and challenges of the NI PE curriculum. Our findings illustrate the possibilities offered by the holistic, interdisciplinary ‘Big Picture’ approach in policy while acknowledging the potential challenges of this in practice, given the complex political and religious context of NI. Further work in schools, with teachers, is needed in this novel area moving forward, to build a richer body of knowledge and better inform future policy and practice.