Physical Education Teachers from Three Primary Schools Receive Recognition from RU’s Department of Sport Science

Physical education teachers from Engjaskóli, Sjálandsskóli, and Rimaskóli received recognition from the Department of Sport Science at Reykjavík University (RU) for outstanding assessment practices in school sports.

The award ceremony took place at Reykjavík University on May 28 and was held for the second time. It is intended to become an annual event.

The Department of Sport Science invited primary school physical education teachers to participate in the initiative, which aims to highlight effective and motivating teaching methods in school sports and swimming. Another goal is to showcase high-quality professional practices and share them within the teaching community.

This is the second time the department has granted the recognition. This year, special emphasis was placed on assessment methods at the youngest school level, swimming across all levels, and the implementation of new competency criteria.

Dr. Sveinn Þorgeirsson, an assistant professor at the Department of Sport Science at RU and director of the M.Ed. program in Sport Science and Teaching, is behind the initiative. He noted that the project has gained positive momentum this year, with higher-quality applications and increased adoption of the ideas presented by more schools. He believes this shows that the initiative is achieving its goals of raising the visibility of physical education teaching and spreading best practices.

A special evaluation committee reviewed the applications and decided on the awards. This year, the committee consisted of four physical education teachers from primary schools, meaning that teachers evaluated the work of their peers.

The committee chair, Hulda Bjarkar (a teacher at Réttarholtsskóli), said that the applications submitted this year were excellent. She emphasized that considerable work had been done over the past year, both in implementing the new national curriculum competency criteria and in strengthening overall sports programs in schools.

She also noted that many people associate “assessment” mainly with written exams and grades, but physical education teachers understand that assessment is much broader. In PE, assessment is dynamic and takes place during every step, throw, and movement. Teachers evaluate not only performance—such as speed or distance—but also progress, mindset, and life skills.

The committee agreed that physical education teachers demonstrate strong ambition in their assessment practices, striving to make them both fair and motivating. Assessment is viewed like good coaching: showing students where they stand and giving them opportunities to improve.

The initiative also helps elevate the status of the subject, demonstrating that physical education is not merely a “break from academic subjects,” but a key component of students’ overall development, where progress is assessed in a professional and meaningful way.

Evaluation Committee Comments

Engjaskóli

At Engjaskóli, physical education is viewed as a unified whole, where sports and swimming teachers work together as a strong, cohesive team.

According to the committee, it was very clear in their application that there is a strong connection between students’ learning and competency criteria, both in relation to the new curriculum standards and individualised learning.

Students receive good feedback from their teachers, and the assessment methods are very clear.

The teachers who received recognition were Bergrós Arna Jóhannesdóttir, Hjördís Klara Hjartardóttir, and Kristín Guðmundsdóttir. They work with formative assessment and integrated learning in a very clear and constructive way, whether through projects or games.

Sjálandsskóli

At Sjálandsskóli, there is a well-considered and well-organised project that has been developed with students’ abilities and well-being in mind. This project clearly demonstrates how the new curriculum criteria for outdoor education have been adapted to the school’s practices. It involved excellent outdoor teaching that serves as a model for others.

The teachers receiving recognition are Guðrún Sigríður Pálsdóttir, Hrafnhildur Sigurðardóttir, Davíð Örvar Ólafsson, and Úlfur S. Þórarinsson. They have developed very clear and descriptive assessment methods, making it easy for students to understand their own progress.

Rimaskóli

At Rimaskóli, the project focuses on supporting students receiving additional instruction in swimming to help them achieve set goals. Once those goals are met, students are prepared to take on the standard curriculum requirements.

This is an exceptionally well-organised and well-implemented project. Assessment is clear to both parents and students. Step-based criteria guide students forward gradually until the main goal is achieved—transitioning into regular class instruction.

The teachers receiving recognition are Davíð Már Sigurðsson and Sigrún Blomsterberg. They have developed an excellent teaching approach for children who struggle with issues such as fear of water or insecurity in the water, where students quickly experience progress and motivation to perform well.

Podcasts about the initiative were recorded under “Íþróttarabb HR,” and interviews from last year are also available online.