New SQA guidance launched by Barrhead and Glasgow students will make National Physical Education qualifications more accessible to learners with physical disabilities.

St Oswald’s ALN Secondary in Castlemilk and Barrhead High School play Boccia, a Paralympic sport, and will now have the opportunity to be assessed in it as part of their PE qualifications at National 3 through to Advanced Higher level.

The guidance also highlights that starting from the 2024-25 school year, learners' performances can be assessed in Paralympic sports such as Boccia, Goalball, and other wheelchair, powerchair, and parasports activities, which can then contribute towards their final grade.

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SQA worked with Scottish Disability Sport to produce the updated guidance after it received feedback from teachers across the country asking for more to be done to enable disabled learners to study National Qualifications in PE.

Layla McCloskey, a student from Barrhead High School, who is undertaking Boccia as part of her National 5 Physical Education course, said: ''I’m so pleased that I’m able to take part in PE this year.

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''I’ve been playing Boccia for a while now, and it’s great that I can do it as part of my qualification.

''I’m looking forward to having my performance assessed and showing what I can do.''

Mags Paterson, head of Creative, Hospitality, and Sport at SQA, said: ''Sport is for everyone, and our ambition is to make Physical Education courses available to as wide a range of learners as we can.

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''We want to ensure that learners like Layla can continue their PE journey as far as they can and receive qualifications that recognise their abilities and achievements.’'

Alison Shaw, education and learning manager at Scottish Disability Sport, said: '‘This is a real, tangible step in giving young people with physical disabilities the chance to continue their sporting journey into their senior years at school and beyond.

''By giving schools and teachers guidance on how they can support their learners with physical disabilities, we can foster lifelong connections with sport and physical activity, and we may even develop future Paralympians along the way.’'

(Image: Scottish Qualifications Authority)

Gary Muirhead, deputy head teacher at St Oswald’s ALN Secondary in Castlemilk, said: ''What we’re able to do now is give young people with physical barriers to learning the same opportunities available to other pupils who want to achieve SQA qualifications in PE.

''Giving learners the chance to be assessed in sports like Boccia, and other para, wheelchair, and powerchair sports will help ensure all learners will be able to study National Qualifications in PE.’'