This paper identifies 'quality' as an internationally relevant concept to be problematised in contemporary debates about physical education (PE). Drawing on the conceptualisation of curriculum by B. Bernstein in 1977, pedagogy and assessment as three inter-related message systems of schooling, the paper presents and explores curriculum, pedagogy and assessment as three fundamental dimensions of 'quality PE'. Discussion addresses what quality in each dimension may mean in PE, and demand in practice. Contemporary initiatives in Australia and New Zealand provide a reference point for exploring the prospective application of quality conceptualised in terms of the three inter-related dimensions. Attention is drawn to frameworks in mainstream education that may be utilised in endeavours to critically review current practices, and inform developments directed towards achieving quality in PE. It is argued that achieving quality in PE requires that quality is pursued and demonstrated within and across curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, and that meanings of quality always need to be contextualised in cultural, social and institutional terms.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Quality physical education; Curriculum; Pedagogy; Assessment; Productive pedagogies
Research Division:	Education
Research Group:	Curriculum and pedagogy
Research Field:	Curriculum and pedagogy theory and development
Objective Division:	Education and Training
Objective Group:	Teaching and curriculum
Objective Field:	Assessment, development and evaluation of curriculum
UTAS Author:	Penney, D (Professor Dawn Penney)
ID Code:	61758
Year Published:	2009
Web of Science® Times Cited:	94
Deposited By:	Education
Deposited On:	2010-03-05
Last Modified:	2010-05-13
Downloads:	0