Skip to content

NI education: 'Outdoor play is still PE in many teachers' eyes'

About three-quarters of primary schools surveyed in a study were not providing the recommended amount of PE classes, according to the Education and Training Inspectorate.

The Department of Education recommends that pupils should do at least two hours of PE each week.

Among the 84 primary schools involved in the study was Andrews Memorial in Comber.

PE teacher Ashleigh Sims says while PE lessons can get squeezed, the children get a lot of exercise throughout the day.

The Department of Education says PE is important and it will act on the next steps outlined in the report.

Read the full story here.

8 November 2022

Explore More

Emma, with long brown hair and wearing a purple hoody, looks to the side of the camera

How schools can help bereaved pupils with grief

Northern Ireland

A woman with straight blonde hair looks to the side of the camera. She is wearing a blue t-shirt and necklace.

Parents of SEN young people call for support

Northern Ireland

a young man looking excited while holding a white piece of paper

'Over the moon': Students with special educational needs get results

Northern Ireland

Children cheering outside Queen Elizabeth II School

'This school is the heart of the community'

Northern Ireland

Peter Weir

'I regret that closing schools was made political'

Northern Ireland

A 12-year-old girl who missed four months of her education due to a delay in securing a secondary school place has said she felt "lonely and isolated" away from classes.

'I had no friends and I felt lonely'

Northern Ireland

Ulster Orchestra at John Paul II

'We're hoping just to make a few sparks'

Northern Ireland

A protest has been held at Stormont by families of children with special educational needs (SEN) who are concerned by impact of school strikes.

'My child is being failed in special education'

Northern Ireland

A plan to close a Catholic primary school in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, has been withdrawn.

'If you fight for your school others will step in'

Northern Ireland

Dr Keir Bloom

NI education system is 'seriously underfunded'

Northern Ireland

Afnan Elmahina

'We want to complete our education'

Northern Ireland

Violet and Shelbie Heasley

'It was humiliating and took away my girl's dignity'

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland students receive their A-level results

Student relief as tense wait for A-level results ends

Northern Ireland

Tracy Rossborough

It's an additional expense during cost-of-living crisis

Northern Ireland

STEM event belfast

'Children are natural born scientists'

Northern Ireland

Mum

'This is affecting every family in Northern Ireland'

Northern Ireland

Lauren Boyle

'Follow your heart and do what you want to do'

Northern Ireland

An striking INTO member holds a placard that reads: EDUCATION CUTS DON'T HEAL

'Strike action is the last thing teachers want'

Northern Ireland

Pupils at Abbey Community College

'Politicians - just ask young people'

Northern Ireland

WalkingBus

Jingle strolls as pupils take on Christmas challenge

Northern Ireland

Tom Hadden sits on a grey sofa. He is wearing a stripey top.

'Rural road crash changed my life'

Tom Hadden was driving a bin lorry down a country road when another truck collided with his vehicle.

Northern Ireland

Memorial stone in Ballyatrick forest to Inga Maria Hauser. Bouquets of flowers have been placed around the stone

Murdered backpacker's family hopeful over inquest

Eighteen-year-old Inga Maria Hauser's body was found in Ballypatrick forest in County Antrim in 1988.

Northern Ireland

A hole in a dark gravel road up close with a road continuing in the background surrounded by fields

'The edges have eroded away'

Potholes and deteriorating rural roads are affecting journeys, said a transport provider.

Northern Ireland

Sebastian is being kissed on the cheek by his mother Amanda. He has short blonde hair and is wearing a blue jacket. Amanda is wearing a black and white headscarf and gold feathered earrings.

'He has nowhere to go and he's still there'

Sebastian's mother said he had limited access to the outside world after spending 10 months in hospital.

Northern Ireland

Noleen Mullan, the mother of Katie Simpson, speaking at a press conference. She is wearing an olive coat over a white top.

Katie Simpson family 'feeling empty' after report

Katie Simpson's mother says those responsible for police failings "are nowhere to be seen".

Northern Ireland

Debbie McCrudden

'I'm glad I didn't let the fear stop me'

Debbie McCrudden was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2014 and was worried about having children.

Northern Ireland

A man with black glasses and a yellow jumper looks at the camera. He has black hair

'We caught my cancer early - that was key'

Two men are raising awareness of the signs of testicular and prostate cancer.

Northern Ireland

A man with a black beard and black hair stands in front of University of Ulster building wearing a black hoody

Belfast reacts to Trump's US election victory

BBC NI asks people in Belfast how they feel about Donald Trump's victory in the US election.

Northern Ireland

Sandra Larmour

‘Drugs was never really a topic of conversation’

Sandra Larmour's daughter Jeni died hours after arriving at Newcastle University to begin her degree.

Northern Ireland

Gillian Kearney speaking at a police press conference. There is a green PSNI banner behind her and four microphones in front. She is in uniform and has blonde hair, which is tied back.

Increased police presence in Derry after attacks

Speaking at a press conference, Ch Supt Kearney says the extra policing will continue over the coming days.

Northern Ireland

Indiana Land sign, with snakes and birds

A trip down memory lane with BBC archives

More than 9,000 new video clips from the 1990s have been added to the BBC Northern Ireland Rewind website.

Northern Ireland

Cahir O'Hagan in football top in stadium

'Medication wasn't able to save my brother'

Cahir O'Hagan was 25 when he died from cystic fibrosis while waiting for a lung transplant.

Northern Ireland

Lara Storey sitting in front of a window

'I never had anyone sit down and take me seriously'

Former Tesco employee Lara Storey wants other women to know they don’t have to accept unwanted behaviour.

Northern Ireland

Melissa Hamilton - a woman with long, blonde hair which is tied back in a ponytail is smiling as she looks slightly off camera.

'To perform ballet back home is a dream come true'

Melissa Hamilton is performing three ballet shows in Belfast's Grand Opera House this weekend.

Northern Ireland

Kwame Daniels in front of the Telegraph building in Belfast. He is wearing thick-rimmed glasses, a green jacket, a red shirt and a ruck sack.

'I'm home': Anti-slavery show explores Belfast diversity

A unique live show commemorating Belfast's opposition to the slave trade has opened in the city centre.

Northern Ireland

Deirdre Shakespeare wearing a white blouse and gold necklace. She has wavy blonde hair and is outside. There are trees and fields behind her.

Mother 'vindicated' by report into autistic son's treatment

Deirdre Shakespeare's son, Harry, was restrained in a chair at his special school without her knowledge.

Northern Ireland

Christine McCleery - she has long blonde hair and a black top on.

'I want to prevent this happening again' - Mum of stillborn baby

Services for pregnant women need to be overhauled in Northern Ireland, a review finds.

Northern Ireland

Woody the dog - he wears a harness and is a red labrador. He has beautiful brown eyes

'One ferret killed 27 puffins' - the dog keeping seabirds safe

Ferrets and rats pose a grave risk to puffins and other seabirds who breed on Rathlin Island every year.

Northern Ireland

Christ the Redeemer's vice-principal Nicola McKeown - she has blond hair and a wide smile

Grownups go back to maths class

Parents and grandparents go back to school to help pupils at Christ the Redeemer Primary School in Dunmurry.

Northern Ireland

A translink train, painted yellow, blue and grey, stationary on the rail lines at Belfast's Grand Central Station

'A hugely significant day for public transport'

Belfast's Grand Central Station first train left for Dublin Connolly.

Northern Ireland