PE makes grade in assessing places for secondary school

Rachael Ng

Physical Education will be included in the internal assessments for the secondary school places allocation system, the Education Bureau announced yesterday.

This initiative aims to promote a healthy lifestyle among students and encourage them to develop a habit of participating in sports activities from a young age.

The bureau said: "Incorporating PE into internal assessment is seen as beneficial."

Currently, all primary schools participating in the Secondary School Places Allocation System are required to submit their students' internal assessment data in relevant subjects during the second term of Primary 5 and the first and second terms of Primary 6.

The existing weighting system consists of 38 points, with Chinese, English, and Mathematics each accounting for nine points each, General Studies accounting for six points, Visual Arts accounting for three points, and Music accounting for two points.

Starting in the 2025/26 academic year, General Studies will be divided into Primary Science and Primary Humanities.

Under the revised system, Chinese, English, and Mathematics will account for eight points each, while Primary Science and Primary Humanities will collectively account for eight points.

Visual Arts, Music, and Physical Education will each account for two points each. This new weighting system will be implemented for primary five students beginning in the 2026/27 academic year.

Government sources indicated that the bureau will not establish a standardized rubric for schools to assess students' PE results.

Instead, it will provide four domains - physical fitness, attitudes, sports skills, and knowledge - for schools to create their own assessment rubrics.

These rubrics should outline clear learning goals, assessment criteria, and methods of conducting the evaluations.

Authorities anticipate these assessments will gradually align with the physical tests currently used by schools.If students are unable to participate in the assessments due to health conditions, parents must submit medical certificates to their schools.

Schools have the discretion to arrange make-up assessments for absentees or to use the other two assessments for calculations.

Also, schools can apply different standards for children unable to participate in physical sports but should seek guidance from the bureau.

If students cannot complete all three assessments throughout Primary Five and Six, their PE results will be excluded from consideration, capping the total weighting at 36 points.

rachael.ng@singtaonewscorp.com