The Curriculum Analysis of Senior Education in Physical Education (CASE-PE) study

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Why is it important?

The importance of senior secondary school physical education (PE) is underscored by the assessment of learning outcomes being linked to future access to higher education, employment and further training. Yet within the broad spectrum of PE studies, the investigation of senior secondary school PE has been limited. This article serves the purpose of exploring the key concepts and themes from senior secondary PE syllabi across Australian states and territories. The Leximancer text-mining software was applied as an innovative tool for the exploratory conceptual and thematic analyses within the Curriculum Analysis of Senior Education in Physical Education (CASE-PE) study. A number of similar themes emerged within the CASE-PE study from across the state and territory senior physical education syllabi, including skills, physical, learning, assessment, study, use, performance and training. A number of themes were unique to each state and territory and major concepts had differing levels of relevance. This article provides insights into an under-theorised and - explored part of the Australian curriculum and PE literature. We conclude there is a need for greater uniformity in senior secondary PE curricula and its underpinnings in the future.