Presentation of findings for Victorian North Central region government schools, for Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) - How are primary education health and physical education (HPE) teachers best prepared?

AIM: to investigate how best to prepare Health and Physical Education (HPE) specialist teachers within Primary schools (Initial Teacher Education). The overarching research question is: (1) What are Primary School Principals’ perceptions of a Bachelor Primary Education (Health and Physical Education) course and testamur? (A course where graduate teachers are generalist primary teachers and specialist Health and Physical Education teachers). Supplementary research questions that will generate data include: (2) Who teaches HPE in Primary schools? (3) If a HPE teacher is employed, do they have HPE specific qualifications? (4) Do Principals prefer to have a HPE specialist teacher to teach HPE? (5) Would a testamur/ certificate that read “Bachelor of Primary Education (Health and Physical Education)” course assist Principals with the employment of staff? (6) Do Principals find a course that qualified teachers to be generalist classroom teachers and HPE specialists of value