Physical Education (PE) is an important component of the curriculum in schools and is also available for study at both GCSE and A2 level; the subject itself has absorbed the implications of the developments in education, including curriculum development, the national curriculum and the changing context of schooling; furthermore, the training and development agency report on curriculum and standards of new teachers has examined what should be taught and why and how it can most effectively be taught; this has influenced the preparation of students training as physical education teachers.