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Department Education, Training and the Arts Queensland
Curriculum: Learning, Teaching and Assessment > School Health and Wellbeing initiatives > Smart Moves - Physical Activity Programs in Queensland State Schools >

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

See also: The Myths about Smart Moves (new window) 295k Microsoft® Word document

Q. When are we required to implement Smart Moves in our school?

A. State schools will develop a plan of action by February 2008. Guidelines are available to state schools to assist with the development of this plan. State schools will implement Smart Moves by the end of 2008.

Q. How do state schools report on their physical activity programs?

A. State schools will report annually through the School Improvement and Accountability Framework (SIAF) and Performance Monitoring and Reporting Branch (PMRB) on their time allocation of physical activity within curriculum time.

Q. In primary state schools, can the 30 minutes of daily physical activity time be accumulated and used in a large block of time?

A. The intent of Smart Moves is to encourage students to become lifelong active and healthy citizens by participating in 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Accumulating the time engaged in physical activity would not achieve this outcome.

Q. In primary state schools, can the 30 minutes of physical activity time be separated into two fifteen minute sessions in the same day?

A. Health benefits can be achieved through the accumulation of smaller segments of time. However, the activity time for the day should total at least 30 minutes of physical activity.

Q. We have students with a disability for whom exercise is difficult. How are they included?

A. Being physically active is important for the health and wellbeing of all Queensland state school students. State schools should make every attempt to allocate the required time for physical activity for all their students including those with disabilities. This would depend on the type and level of the particular disability.

Q. How do secondary state schools complete two hours of physical activity each week in curriculum time when Health and Physical Education is offered as an elective subject and sport is not available to all students?

A. It is expected that HPE, as one of the eight KLAs, would be offered to all lower secondary school students. Should there be situations where HPE or Sport is not available, state schools should reconsider their timetable and curriculum to ensure all lower secondary students participate in a minimum of two hours of physical activity each week.

Q. Our Year 8 and 9 students have Health and Physical Education classes scheduled every week. Will this meet the Smart Moves time requirement?

A. The Years 1-10 Health and Physical Education Syllabus consists of three strands:

The active elements of these programs can be included in the Smart Moves time requirement. Lessons involving physical activity usually focus on Strand Two.

State schools will need to ensure that students in Years 8 and 9 are provided with the opportunity to engage in a minimum of two hours of physical activity each week.

Q. What about professional development in rural or remote areas where access to professional development is difficult?

A. A number of web-based professional development tools and resources exist for state schools in rural and remote areas. These will be available through the Smart Moves website in 2008. Professional development activities that are part of the Year of Physical Activity will also be very valuable.

Q. Can lunchtime physical activities such as handball or sports training be included as part of the Smart Moves allocated time?

A. Smart Moves is designed to ensure all state school students participate in physical activity within curriculum time. 'Curriculum' includes school organised learning programs and/or activities before/after school or at lunchtime. These may be included in the required time for physical activity. Regular moderate to vigorous physical activity at lunch time such as handball or sports training is encouraged.

Q. Do school sports days and carnivals count towards curriculum time?

A. State school carnivals play a vital role in developing teamwork and school spirit. However, they do not meet the time requirements of daily physical activity for Smart Moves for all students.

Q. We have interschool sport but not all students participate. Can we include this time?

A. Interschool sport plays an important role in developing healthy attitudes towards regular physical activity. Smart Moves requires all students to participate in physical activity. If this opportunity is not available to all students it does not meet the requirements of Smart Moves.

Q. Can regional trials or competitions be included in the time requirements of Smart Moves if they are held during school hours?

A. Smart Moves requires all state school students to be engaged in physical activity. Regional trials or competitions would not be included in the time requirements because they do not include all students in these activities.

Q. We offer to our students an after school physical activity program. Does that mean we have met the requirements of Smart Moves?

A. Smart Moves is about increasing physical activity within curriculum time. 'Curriculum' includes school organised learning programs and/or activities before/after school or at lunchtime. These may be included in the required time for physical activity.

Q. If we access an external provider to conduct physical activity sessions, does this contribute to the time requirements for Smart Moves?

A. If this partnership is an ongoing arrangement and is offered to all students; it can be included in the time allocation for Smart Moves. One-off sessions or short term programs are only suitable within the context of a broader physical activity program.

Q. Our oval has been closed down as it is now unsafe to use due to watering restrictions. Where do we conduct our physical activity sessions?

A. State schools will need to identify alternate venues when engaging their students in physical activity. Covered areas, tennis courts, basketball or netball courts can be successfully used for physical activity as long as safety requirements are followed.

You may like to visit the Policies and Procedures Register HLS-PR-012: Curriculum Activity Risk Management for the safety guidelines of many physical activities undertaken in state schools.

Q. Does the time requirement include the Promoting the Health of Individuals and Communities and Enhancing Personal Development strands of the Health and Physical Education Syllabus?

A. The curriculum time requirement is for physical activity only. Teaching the Years 1-10 Health and Physical Education Syllabus strands of Promoting the Health of Individuals and Communities and Enhancing Personal Development will occur at other times within the curriculum.

Q. What do teachers do when students refuse to be physically active?

A. State schools regularly manage issues of student non-compliance. Physical Education or any other physical activity session should be treated no differently to any other lesson. Using physical activity as a form of punishment should be avoided.

Q. What do we do about students who come to school wearing an unsuitable uniform for physical activity to avoid being physically active?

A. State schools regularly manage the issue of school uniform. Implementation of Smart Moves would be managed similarly.

Q. Our school has a "No hat, no play" rule. What should teachers do with students who do not have a hat to wear outdoors?

A. While protecting students from the harmful effects of the sun is essential so is the engagement of students in regular physical activity. State schools will need to provide alternative strategies to ensure that students can participate in physical activity.

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