Why Skateboarding Should Be an Option in GCSE PE
Skateboarding for GCSE PE – A National Conversation
At TR7 Skatepark, we see every day how skateboarding changes lives.
Young people walk through our doors nervous, curious, sometimes unsure of themselves. Within weeks they’re building confidence, learning new skills, supporting each other, and discovering something they genuinely love doing.
Skateboarding is more than just a hobby — for many young people it’s the activity that keeps them moving, learning and engaged.
And yet, despite its growth and recognition worldwide, students in England still cannot choose skateboarding as an activity within GCSE Physical Education.
We think it’s time to start a conversation about that.
A Sport Recognised Around the World
Skateboarding became an Olympic sport in 2020, first appearing at the Tokyo Olympic Games and returning again at Paris 2024.
Across the world, the sport has continued to grow — with structured coaching, competitions, and youth development programmes.
Here in the UK, skateparks and skate schools are already delivering lessons, coaching programmes, and youth sessions every week.
Many centres work directly with schools, youth organisations and community groups, helping young people build physical skills, resilience and confidence.
Why This Matters for Young People
For some students, traditional team sports are a great fit.
But for others, activities like skateboarding provide a different pathway into physical activity.
Skateboarding encourages:
-
Balance and coordination
-
Persistence and resilience
-
Individual progression and goal setting
-
Creativity and problem solving
It’s also a sport where young people often support and encourage each other — building community along the way.
By allowing skateboarding to be reviewed as an option within GCSE PE, students could have another meaningful way to stay active and develop their skills.
A Growing Movement
Recently we launched a campaign called “Add Skateboarding for GCSE PE – England.”
The aim is simple: to encourage a review of skateboarding as a potential activity option within GCSE Physical Education.
We’re currently connecting with:
-
skateparks
-
skate schools
-
youth organisations
-
and members of the skate community
across the country to support the conversation.
It’s been amazing to see the skateboarding community come together around the idea.
How You Can Support
If you believe skateboarding should be considered as an option within GCSE PE, you can support the campaign by signing the petition below.
You can also help by sharing the campaign and tagging your local school so we can start the conversation with them too.
Building the Future of Skateboarding
At TR7, our mission has always been about more than just providing a place to skate.
It’s about building a community, supporting young people, and helping skateboarding continue to grow.
Opening the conversation around GCSE PE is simply another step towards recognising the positive impact skateboarding already has across the country.
And we’re excited to see where the conversation goes next.