Key competences in physical education: a critical evlution

The competences approach has been recently adopted in the Spanish school curriculum and is related to a wider proposal promoted by European Unionos education institutions. According to this approach, education must contribute to reinforce competitiveness and dynamism as well as social cohesion. The Spanish education policy oLey Organica de Educaciono (LOE) of 2006 sets the key competences as a new curriculum component and defines several key competences which should be promoted and developed in the different school subjects. This paper seeks to clarify the content and official pedagogical discourse regarding key competences derived from European Unionos educational approach and LOE, adding a critical evaluation from the physical education perspective. Firstly, we deal with the European Unionos educational approach and the adoption of lifelong learning as a teaching strategy. Secondly, competences are defined as a key element for lifelong learning and the key competences in Spanish curriculum according to LOE are expounded. Then, we point out the contribution of physical education to the key competences compiled in the lately published legislation about basic learning. Finally, a critical evaluation of the competences approach in physical education is added.