Involving parents in health-based physical education: an action research project

This study was an action research project based on a "Healthy Lifestyles" course taught to 1st year girls in a London secondary school. The study was divided into three parts: (1) an analysis of the teacher-as-researcher role in schools; (2) an analysis of parental involvement in a "Healthy Lifestyles" project; (3) an evaluation of a "Healthy Lifestyles" open evening for parents. The results showed that: (1) parents are interested in their children's work on health issues and this demonstrated the potential of involving them more closely; (2) by using pupils' involvement on a health course lasting a few short weeks parents knowledge and attitudes can be influenced; (3) this project was more effective in reaching the parents of upper band children than those in middle and lower bands; (4) parents' perceptions of health and fitness issues was based on inaccurate, or lack of, knowledge and this needs to be taken into account when teaching children about health and fitness issues; (5) short courses on health and fitness need to be reassessed for their effectiveness in the long term if the promotion of health is to continue to involve parents. Using action research techniques enables a teacher to be more reflective and consequently more aware of the impact of their teaching on pupils.