A report released today has found that physical education (PE) and school sport is at a crossroads. It has led the chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust to warn that future generations of young people are at risk of living their lives devoted to technology, “hostages to handheld devices” and disengaged from physical activity.
The Class of 2035: promoting a brighter and more active future for the youth of tomorrow report presents four possible scenarios – both positive and negative – for the future. The report, conducted for the Youth Sport Trust by the Future Foundation to mark the charity’s 20th anniversary and launched at the start of National School Sport Week, provides a unique insight into young people’s relationship with physical activity today and 20 years from now.
The report depicts possible relationships between technological empowerment/disempowerment, levels of physical activity in PE and school sport, and their relevance. It also offers insight into the impact of this on the physical and emotional wellbeing of the next generation and their educational achievement.
To generate the ideal “fit for purpose” generation, where young people are positively impacted and empowered by technology, the report calls for action to be taken by everyone in the industry to modernise the approach to PE and school sport, guaranteeing the best possible future for generations to come.
By surveying 1,000 five- to 16-year-olds, the report found that the worst case “digitally distracted” generation is likely for the future. In this scenario, young people have been negatively impacted by technology, sedated by exposure to digital devices to which they are addicted. This generation communicates almost exclusively through social media. Visit the Class of 2035 to find out more.
There is no resisting the march of technology; in order to get more young people active from a young age, the report calls for a more holistic approach to PE, whereby technology and school sport are fully integrated, helping ensure the Class of 2035 is healthy, active and engaged across all areas of academia.
The Class of 2035 highlights five possible situations that face the next generation:
- Digitally distracted – a world where young people are so involved in the digital world they do not engage in physical activity nor are they able to concentrate on and engage in a full lesson.
- Fit for purpose – young people are empowered to participate fully in PE, sport and physical activity – in and out of school – positively impacting on their achievements, health and wellbeing.
- Go it alone – a generation which proactively seeks an active lifestyle, but there isn’t the infrastructure needed to maximise their potential.
- Sidelined – a generation that has been completely let down. Their days are spent consuming digital media, with very little outdoor activity, leaving them lethargic and broadly unhappy. They’re ill-prepared for the challenges of adulthood.
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Unaltered – an unchanged picture compared to today’s landscape.
Read the full Class of 2035 report here and tell us what you think the most likely scenario to be by taking part in our poll below.
