physical education teacher secondary school
Key facts
Inspire the next generation of athletes and promote lifelong wellness as a physical education teacher in secondary school. This role combines a passion for physical activity with the rewarding experience of shaping young minds.
As a physical education teacher in secondary school, you’ll play a vital role in the development of students, fostering their physical literacy and promoting healthy habits. Your days will be dynamic, involving lesson planning, instruction, assessment, and creating a supportive environment where students can learn and grow – both physically and personally. You’ll work within a school setting, typically with children and young adults, and are a specialist in physical education.
- • Develop and implement engaging lesson plans aligned with curriculum standards.
- • Instruct students in a variety of physical activities, sports, and fitness concepts.
- • Assess student progress through practical tests and examinations, providing constructive feedback.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Teaching professionals — 131 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia and 8 more.
Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Future Outlook for physical education teacher secondary school
The outlook for physical education teacher secondary school is exceptionally stable. While AI tools will assist with daily tasks, the core of this role relies on human judgment, resulting in a high resilience score of 71%.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could physical education teacher secondary school change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could physical education teacher secondary school change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- guarantee students' safety
- correct potentially harmful movements
- give constructive feedback
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- apply risk management in sports
- prepare lesson content
- monitor developments in field of expertise
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Education
A typical day as a physical education teacher secondary school
09 09:00 · Morning assign homework
10 10:30 · Mid-morning apply risk management in sports
12 12:00 · Midday correct potentially harmful movements
14 14:00 · Afternoon instruct in sport
15 15:30 · Late afternoon motivate in sports
17 17:00 · Wrap-up personalise sports programme
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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instructional strategies
The techniques that instructors use to deliver lessons. The aim of these strategies is to make students become more involved in the learning process.
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post-secondary school procedures
The inner workings of a post-secondary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.
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sporting equipment usage
The correct operation, safe usage and maintenance of sporting equipment.
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biomechanics of sport performance
The biomechanical aspects of sport practice, typical movements, and terminology of technical movements.
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features of sporting equipment
Types of sporting, fitness and recreational equipment and sporting supplies and their characteristics.
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sporting events
Possess an understanding of different sporting events and conditions that can affect a result.
- curriculum objectives
- learning difficulties
- secondary school procedures
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personalise sports programme
Observe and evaluate individual performance and determine personal needs and motivation to tailor programmes accordingly and in conjunction with the participant
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monitor student's behaviour
Supervise the student's social behaviour to discover anything unusual. Help solve any issues if necessary.
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maintain students' discipline
Make sure students follow the rules and code of behaviour established in the school and take the appropriate measures in case of violation or misbehaviour.
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assess students
Evaluate the students' (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.
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perform classroom management
Maintain discipline and engage students during instruction.
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compile course material
Write, select or recommend a syllabus of learning material for the students enrolled in the course.
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apply teaching strategies
Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners' level, goals, and priorities.
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apply intercultural teaching strategies
Ensure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Explore individual and social stereotypes and develop cross-cultural teaching strategies.
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liaise with educational support staff
Communicate with education management, such as the school principal and board members, and with the education support team such as the teaching assistant, school counsellor or academic advisor on issues relating the students' well-being.
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liaise with educational staff
Communicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students' well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with the technical and research staff to discuss research projects and courses-related matters.
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adapt teaching to student's capabilities
Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.
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assist students in their learning
Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.
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organise training
Make the necessary preparations to conduct a training session. Provide equipment, supplies and exercise materials. Ensure the training runs smoothly.
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develop course outline
Research and establish an outline of the course to be taught and calculate a time frame for the instructional plan in accordance with school regulations and curriculum objectives.
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guarantee students' safety
Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.
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assign homework
Provide additional exercises and assignments that the students will prepare at home, explain them in a clear way, and determine the deadline and evaluation method.
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prepare lesson content
Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does physical education teacher secondary school fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
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56% similarityFrequently asked questions
- What qualifications are typically needed to become a physical education teacher in secondary school?
- Generally, a bachelor’s degree in physical education or a related field is required, along with relevant teaching certifications or licenses as mandated by local educational authorities. Specific requirements can vary, so it's essential to research the regulations in your region.
- How much emphasis is placed on practical assessment in this role?
- Practical assessment is a core component of the role. You'll be evaluating students' skills and understanding through physical activities and performance-based tasks, alongside more traditional examinations.
- What kind of leadership and strategic thinking is involved in this career band?
- At Career Band 5, you’ll likely be involved in curriculum development, mentoring junior colleagues, contributing to school-wide physical activity initiatives, and potentially leading extracurricular sports programs. This requires strategic planning and the ability to influence and motivate others.
- Physical Education Teacher Secondary School — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 12 of the 18 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark and 8 more. Belgium has reported one for 4 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Physical Education Teacher Secondary School — what does it pay in the United States?
- $75,890 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $58,330 to $127,780. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.