Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV

Article

Compatibility of physical education curricula with physical literacy across 40 European countries

Details

Citation

Carl J, Goss H, Lundvall S, Pavlova I, Algur¨¦n B, Antala B, Bartle G, Birch J, Black V, Bryant AS, Carlos-Vivas J, Christodoulides E, Cowley JG, Cs¨¢nyi T & De Martelaer K (2025) Compatibility of physical education curricula with physical literacy across 40 European countries. Journal of Curriculum Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2025.2523436

Abstract
Although the student-centred concept of physical literacy (PL) has been emphasized by UNESCO, knowledge about its adoption/implementation into PE remains scant. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate and compare the compatibility of PE curricula with PL in Europe. We collaboratively gathered a panel of experts encompassing 40 European countries. In the first step, the experts were invited to freely specify the compatibility of country¡¯s PE curricula with PL. The reports were subjected to six-step reflexive thematic analysis. In the second step, we theoretically derived, psychometrically explored, and descriptively analysed 15 curricular-didactical items, each containing a spectrum of statements with high versus no/insufficient PL compatibility. We synthesized both data sources following an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. While few PE curricula explicitly adhered to PL in Europe, most documents exhibited content and aims marking elements of PL. However, we registered large differences in PL-compatibility between four European regions for the deep structure of the curricula (¦Ç2=.27, p=.01). While the quantitative survey suggested no differences in PL compatibility between anglophone versus non-anglophone countries, the qualitative material revealed conceptual and terminological challenges across Europe. The European countries have hesitantly followed the UNESCO call to align PE with the holistic PL concept.

Keywords
Learning; policy; teaching; physical activity; mixed methods

Notes
Additional authors: A. Emeljanovaso, G. Eren, A. Fern¨¡te, L. Foweather, B. Gilic, T. Gisladottir, N. Green, D. Groffik, S. Heck, I. van Hilvoorde, M. Huhtiniemi, T.M. Iconomescu, J. Jaunig, E. Jones, G. Jurak, A. Kelso, A. Koka, C. Kreinbucher-Bekerle, I. Lauda¨½ska-Krzemi¨½ska, J. Martins, B. Masanovic, P. McFlynn, M. McKee, P.S. Melby, M. Mendoza-Mu?oz, B. Mieziene, I. Milanovi?, E. Mileva, A. Mouton, I. M¨¹ller, Z. N¨¦meth, W. O¡¯Brien, B.S. Olaru, P. Petrytsa, M. Onofre, M. Pihu, B. Popeska, S. Popovic, A. Poweleit, S. Radisavljevi? Jani?, V. Riga, C. Schnitzler, D. Sekulic, M. Semyonova, A.S. Singh, B. Smila, O. Tsivitanidou, C. T?pfer, J. Va?¨ª?kov¨¢, F. Venetsanou, ?. Winje, V. Zito, G. Y?ld?zer, P. Elsborg, C. D¡¯Anna, P. Vl?ek & K. Salin

Journal
Journal of Curriculum Studies

StatusEarly Online
FundersÂé¶¹´«Ã½AV
Publication date online31/08/2025
Date accepted by journal17/06/2025
PublisherInforma UK Limited
ISSN0022-0272
eISSN1366-5839

People (1)

Dr Joe Cowley

Dr Joe Cowley

Lecturer in Education (PE & Health), Education

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