More and more primary schools and municipalities are measuring children’s motor skills

In 2013, this applied to one third of schools, and in 2017 to two thirds. In 2019, 47 percent of municipalities did this.

Measurements increasingly carried out by specialist teachers

Since 2017, schools where physical education is (partly) taught by a specialist teacher have been more likely to use an instrument to measure motor skills.

Between 2013 and 2017, an increase was also seen at schools where physical education was taught by a classroom teacher. Since 2017, this proportion has remained approximately unchanged.

Purpose of measurements: providing guidance for teachers

The main purpose for municipalities of using a measurement instrument is to provide teachers with guidance for tailoring the content of physical education lessons. Another frequently mentioned objective is being able to guide the deployment of specialist teachers (49%). Testing contributes to these objectives only to a limited extent.

Using the results is difficult

Many municipalities experience obstacles when using the results of the measurement instruments. For example, 18 percent experience obstacles relating to external management (such as the GDPR).

As a result, the findings cannot always be translated into (policy) actions. It is important for municipalities to make good agreements with test owners and schools about data management.

Growing attention at policy level

The increase in the use of instruments to measure motor skills by schools and municipalities may be related to the growing policy-level attention being paid to measuring motor skills. One example of this is the National Sports Agreement.

Surveys among schools and municipalities

For this study, the researchers collected data from municipalities through the panel of the Association of Sports and Municipalities. They also used the physical education survey conducted by the Mulier Institute.