I think it's a good PE kit overall, but it would be better if we were allowed to wear our coats or school jumpers in the coldweather.
I think also coming in in PE kit would make me feel a bit more comfortable as well because changing takes up so much time.
PE is only 50 minutes, so you take like a lot of time just changing and then changing back after.
We can wear a normal red T-shirt, but then you can also wear like our branded logo one, and I think it makes some people feel uncomfortable because the branded stuff are often quite expensive. So, I just have a plain red T-shirt. And sometimes it makes me feel uncomfortable when there's people in my class that have like better ones than me, and it's just a bit like I'm wearing something different to them.
I would wear a sports bra when a sport is higher intensity or has a lot more impact, just for like extra comfort.
I feel like when I wear one, it like makes me feel like I can do more. I'm not restricted in any way. I can just do my best and like give it me all.
The best like sportswear that I've used, they are very expensive, like you're looking at £40 sometimes for like just a plain white top. So I do think there should be more opportunities to buy maybe more like affordable ones.
Yeah, I think if I were to go shopping for them, I'd take a lot of factors in, like how comfy it's going to be, how it's going to look, how it will support.
I think for PE like I would want to leave the legacy that people can feel comfortable participating without worrying about anything else.
Getting everyone's ideas on what they want in PE kits, and kind of just bringing it all together and making something where everyone feels comfortable - if their skirt's going to fall down, or if they're like wearing them, just like something that doesn't make them feel uncomfortable in themselves.
Video Summary
We asked a group of teenage girls their views on their school PE kits. This video explores the impact that PE kit has on girls’ participation in sport, featuring interviews with a variety of teenage girls discussing issues around their school kits. The video could be used in conjunction with the Modesty Considerations video.
Teacher Notes
Use the video to suit your teaching needs, whether with a whole class or smaller groups, as a basis of, support or follow-up to discussion. It can also be used to feed in to related curriculum learning about healthy lifestyles, mental health and wellbeing and physical activity. Ensure you have read the safe teaching and learning guidance before using the video in class. It would also be a good idea to find out what action can reasonably be taken as a result of pupil feedback before hosting the classroom discussion, in case the students complain and there's no recourse to make changes.
Suggestions for activities and discussion
• In small groups, ask pupils to discuss their school PE kit and make a mind map of everything people say about it (good and bad).
• Then make two lists: likes and dislikes. Ask each group to feed these back to the class. Make a list of common ‘like’ and ‘dislike’ themes across all groups’ lists.
• Discuss the ‘whys’ for each dislike.
• Watch the video and highlight the general themes that come out of the girls’ discussion, eg warmth and comfort; time taken changing into kit; expense. Are these common themes that emerged in pupil discussion too? Are there different issues for boys and girls?
• Ask groups to look at their list of ‘dislikes’ and discuss what would need to change. For example, if they dislike that the fabric makes them feel sweaty, then the fabric could be changed into something more breathable.
• As a class, come up with a list of changes that would help reduce or eliminate their ‘dislikes’ list.
