This paper examines Slovenian physical education (PE) teachers' ( n = 85) estimations of their own actual and desired professional competencies with the aim of diagnosing the main needs of practising PE teachers and resolving them within a revised Slovenian Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) curricula and through continued professional development programmes. Results show that PE teachers realistically acknowledge their own deficiencies within certain areas of practice, that during their training they are required to develop knowledge that is not directly applicable in PE classes, thus further detracting from the development of more relevant practically orientated knowledge, and that the reorganization of the Slovenian educational system during the last 15 years presented widespread demands that were not accompanied by appropriate professional institutional support. Their relative disinterest in the competencies developed through the subdisciplinary studies indicates that the mode and contents of the subdisciplinary subjects in the present PETE curriculum should be reviewed and refocused on the contents of the revised primary and secondary school curricula.

This paper sets out to provide further insight as to the reasons why many schools within the primary sector continue to find it difficult to ensure quality provision for physical education (PE) and school sport. It examines why class teachers, including the subject coordinator, possess concerns about teaching PE. It asks the question of who is actually best placed for teaching primary school PE and looks at how working together in partnership can support primary and subsequently secondary school PE curricula. Results from this study reinforce existing research in this area, namely that lack of personal subject knowledge and availability of training opportunities still affect quality of provision. Findings indicate that the majority of class teachers within schools sampled wish to retain a prominent role in providing quality PE experiences. While external specialist support is welcomed many primary sector teachers would resent being placed on the periphery of teaching PE.

The future of physical education (PE) depends on the quality of emerging committed professionals and their ability to teach across the different activity areas contained within the National Curriculum for Physical Education (NCPE). It is a role that requires extensive subject knowledge and perceived competence in the ability to use it effectively. Subject knowledge is identified as one of the professional standards to be met by students seeking the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). It is, however, an area frequently highlighted by students as the main source of concern throughout the process of Initial Teacher Training (ITT). This in turn can affect students' perceived confidence and competence to teach certain activities. One of the activity areas constantly highlighted as causing concern among pre-service PE teachers is gymnastics. This is often attributed to the fact that many trainees enter ITT with an impoverished background in this area. The purpose of the study was to examine the perceived level of personal subject knowledge and competence to teach gymnastics among trainees completing the School Based Experience (SBE) sections of a one-year secondary Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) PE course.

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