Become a physical education teacher

Teaching physical education, you'll give pupils the opportunity to discover the joy of being active, develop essential teamwork skills and grow in confidence both on and off the field.

Why teach PE

Becoming a PE teacher means more than teaching sports. It’s about inspiring pupils to embrace a healthy and active lifestyle, and helping them unlock their potential.

Your teaching will encourage them to discover the benefits of movement, both for their physical fitness and overall wellbeing.

In addition to the personal rewards of teaching PE, there are practical benefits too, including:

People may not realise how much potential there is for progression in teaching. They think they go into the world of the classroom and that's it. Lots of teachers have added responsibilities they enjoy doing and find fulfilling.

Chris Farr, teacher training adviser

Shape your pupils' futures

Teaching PE opens the door for your pupils to pursue exciting careers. They could work in a diverse range of fields, from sports coaching and personal training, to sports therapy or nutrition.

Your pupils will learn more from you than you might think. As their teacher, you’ll teach them the skills to develop perseverance and face challenges with determination.

What you'll teach

You'll teach the national curriculum for PE.

When you teach 11 to 14 year olds (key stage 3), you'll teach pupils to:

  • use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition
  • develop their technique and improve their performance
  • perform dances within a range of dance styles and forms
  • take part in outdoor and adventurous activities which present intellectual and physical challenges
  • analyse their performances compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best
  • take part in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs

Explore what teaching a key stage 3 PE lesson would be like by visiting the Oak National Academy website.

When you teach 14 to 16 year olds (key stage 4), you'll teach pupils to:

  • use and develop a variety of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in team and individual games
  • develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports
  • take part in further outdoor and adventurous activities in a range of environments which present intellectual and physical challenges
  • evaluate their performances compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement across a range of physical activities to achieve their personal best

At A level and AS level (key stage 5), skills you'll cover include:

  • understanding how physiological and psychological states affect performance
  • understanding the role of technology in physical activity and sport
  • applying skills, techniques and tactics in an individual sport
  • understanding the contribution which physical activity makes to health and fitness

Teaching pupils at different ages and abilities means you'll always be expanding your knowledge and approach to meet pupils' needs. Once you have qualified teacher status (QTS) you can also teach any other subject, as long as you can show you have enough expertise.

Explore more about teaching secondary.

Start your journey into teaching PE

Check your qualifications

To train to teach PE in England, you'll need:

  • GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths (and science if you want to teach primary)
  • a bachelor's degree in any subject

Having relevant A levels can show your subject knowledge, if you do not have a degree in PE.

Non-UK citizens: check your qualifications

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, you'll need to show that they meet the standards set for teacher training in England.

You can get help comparing English and international qualifications.

Fund your teacher training

As a trainee PE teacher, you may be eligible to apply for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan.

Even if you've had financial support for a previous course, you could still be eligible for funding to support your teacher training.

You may also be able to get extra funding and support if you're:

  • a parent or carer
  • disabled
  • a veteran

Find out how you can fund your teacher training.

Non-UK citizens: funding your training

Support with teacher training

Throughout your initial teacher training, you'll have the support of a mentor.

Your mentor will:

  • guide you through your training, sharing learning and career development opportunities with you
  • meet with you regularly to make sure your training is a positive experience

You'll also be part of a welcoming school community where you'll learn from fellow teachers through taught sessions, seminars and workshops.

Once you've completed your initial teacher training, you'll continue to be supported during your first 2 years of teaching. Find out what support you'll get as an early career teacher.

Teacher stories

When I saw them start to turn up to play rugby in their own time, I really felt like I’d achieved something.

Read about how Danny engages pupils in his PE lessons.

Get free one-to-one support

An adviser with years of teaching experience can help you to become a PE teacher. Chat by phone, text, or email as little or often as you need.

Find out more about advisers