There is a theory that finding an excuses to get out of PE (physical education) at school is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Maybe having students dress out leaves them vulnerable to body-shaming and self-esteem issues. And what if they're not particularly athletic, to begin with? Here, we examine the reasons why kids search for excuses, the excuses they might use, and schools' policies for PE exemptions.
| 😔Excuse | 😊Why it works |
|---|---|
| A forged note | A note from 'parents' or some other authority (religious, medical) is a sure get-out-of-gym pass! |
| "I'll make a note of that" | Your teacher's slightly menacing warning gives you lots of room to get out of gym work! |
| Technology | Who can function without their personal devices these days? |
| Classmate comparison | It's almost cruel and unfair to be placed into a 'rogue's gallery' of changing bodies! |
| Bullies | These mean folks give you a reason to ditch class OR get fit and show them up! |
| Preferring academics | Isn't the point of school to develop academically? |
| Exhaustion | These are stressful times; don't risk injury when you're too exhausted to focus on working out! |
| The dog ruined my kit! | Dogs love to chew on shoes and eat socks! |
| Large animal interventions | If you live in the country, you're as likely as not to get stuck behind a herd, making you late for class! |
| Delivery services | You ordered your new trainers and shorts, but they haven't arrived yet. Or, they'be been nicked off your porch. |
What Schools Say About Excuses to Get Out of PE
This article's introduction hinted at two major reasons why students want to ditch PE: body-shaming and self-esteem issues. One might argue that any action in those directions are equal to bullying, which the Department for Education (DfE) has established policies against1.
All state schools must have policies in place to prevent bullying. Each school will decide its own policy, and communicate it to parents, students and teachers.
You might have noticed two glaring omissions. Private schools are exempt from this mandate, and the policy is not uniform. In other words, What one school's policy considers harrassing behaviour might not be treated as such at another school.
The DfE policy for school sports and activity is equally vague2.
It allows for budget considerations to make physical activity available to students. It also emphasises the need for students to have some physical activity in school.
However, the School Sport and Activity Plan (SSP) stops short of issuing mandates or making firm recommendations3. It merely provides guidelines. This gives students ample room to find excuses to get out of PE.
Religion and School PE Programmes
The DfE "expects all schools, including faith schools, to be open and inclusive".
Robin Walker, Secretary for Education
UK schools make no policy regarding PE exemptions for religious reasons. Any DfE religous exemption relates to school admission policies and faith-based curricula4. That doesn't help students in state schools whose faith dictates they cannot dress out for sports.
A "PE exempt" note from your religious leader/authority should be enough to excuse you from sports activities.
Of course, the issue is not either/or. Students of faith might be fine participating in PE, provided they can wear chothing that accords to their religion. Or they may only need an excuse on specific days that are significant to their religion. In all cases, a note from their religious authority should suffice.
With all this cleared up, we can get on with excuses to get out of PE. Just a heads-up before getting started: the best excuses are those that contain a grain of truth. Those are the ones we feature now.
1. The Forged Note
This one is the granddaddy of all classic gym excuses. For the pen-and-paper note, you only need a sample of your mum or dad's handwriting and signature to get started. Here's a standard template you can use:
Dear [PE Teacher's Name],
I hope this note finds you well. I am writing to inform you that my child, [Your Name], is unable to participate in physical education class today due to [mild but believable reason, e.g., a sore ankle, a headache, or feeling under the weather]. I believe that rest will be beneficial to ensure a quick recovery.
Please let me know if any further information is needed. Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
[Parent/Guardian’s Name]
You only need a bit of practice before you can credibly duplicate your parents' handwriting. From there, anytime you don't feel like doing PE, you can draft a note. Your grades won't take a hit for unexcused absences and your parents won't wonder why you need so many notes.
2. The Mental Note
Don't you hate it when your teacher says "I'll make a note of that." after a particularly trying encounter with you? It sounds ominous, as though s/he is putting a black mark next to your name in some imaginary ledger. You just know that retribution will be swift, decisive and severe!
You can use that to your advantage.
“Well, Teacher, remember when I accidentally hit the ball straight at your head? You said you’d 'make a note’ of it. I know you meant it as a joke but I’ve been in mortal fear of hitting you ever since! I cannot bear the thought of it ever happening again.” This flexible excuse gives you room for variety:
The point is that you are at risk of suffering from PTSD. In no case should you be exposed to what caused your original trauma. No disrespect intended to actual PTSD sufferers, of course.
3. Technology and Devices
The explosion of personal electronic devices has opened up entirely new excuses to explore. From the obvious 'my phone went down the loo' to 'my Fitbit indicates I've already exerted myself today', here are a few scenarios you might put into play.
Phone troubles
- Phone got wet, must rush home for rice!
- Sat on my phone, broke the glass!
- Took mum's phone by accident, have to meet her!
- I smashed my phone in frustration!
Wearables
- I've already done a day's worth of exercise!
- My device says I've slept poorly!
- Look! My heart rate's up!
- I've got low blood pressure!
- I forgot to put it on!
Whatever terrible plight befell your device(s), compound your distress with "I'm too upset to work out". You might even magnify it with news that you just found out you failed a crucial exam, hence the smashed phone. As for your forgotten wearable, just say that maintaining your fitness record without accounting for your gym class activity is impossible without it.
4. The Comparison
Have you felt that queasy feeling at having to make yourself vulnerable in a PE leotard, with every flaw exposed for all to see? I certainly remember that feeling from my PE days.
Body image issues are a hot topic today. For the past few years, the fashion industry has been under fire for the super-skinny models they hire to parade down the catwalk in their creations.
Indeed, the whole world is undergoing a reckoning about what the ideal female form should be. And males suffer from body dysmorphia too, but their issues don't get near the publicity and attention that females' struggles do.
Educators are acutely aware of issues that may harm a student's health, mental or physical. So if you use this reason to duck out of gym class, be prepared for a bit of scrutiny.
Your gym teacher will likely refer you to the school's counsellor. They may even contact your caregivers to coordinate a care strategy.
If, indeed, you struggle with such issues, talk to someone - your parents or another trusted adult. You may also talk with a mental health professional.
5. The Bully
Unfortunately, bullies are everywhere; so much so that the DfE had to establish a policy for dealing with them (see above).
Perhaps you’ve been subjected to shameful verbal abuse because you have the body of an Adonis/Venus. Or a body that falls outside of the ideal form.
If you are indeed an Adonis/Venus clone, the bully might be so green with envy they've started smear campaigns across the school.
By contrast, if the vitriol heaped upon you is due to a less-than-perfect figure - as is so often the case, forget all of the jokes.
Let your teacher know what's going on. You may even ask if you can transfer into a different class, away from those cruel taunts.
On the other hand, you could turn a deaf ear to the cruelty. Attend PE class religiously and show everyone your best, strongest, most resilient self. That'll show those bullies!
6. The Study Option
“I’m never going to be David Beckham or Dame Kelly Holmes but I have a fighting chance of being the next Stephen Hawking or Jocelyn Bell Burnell." Is this you?
Fact is, not everyone is endowed with athletic prowess. Some of us don't even like to walk from the sofa to the refrigerator and back again.
Still, for this excuse to fly, you have a backup argument/strategy. Simply saying you're far more cerebral than your years allow for won't cut the mustard.
You might say that your parents have invested in private physics and maths tutoring to help you excel in those subjects. Show your gym teacher your planner: that supplemental help will happen at exactly the same time as your gym class.
Even more effective: you've joined the school's science/maths clubs and they will meet during your gym session. You could make this excuse more credible by saying you're doing everything you can to avoid exam failure.
It will be hard (but not impossible) for your athletics teacher to resist roping you into callisthenics. From their perspective, nothing is more important than getting moving. So use this excuse judiciously, lest your request meets with rejection.
7. You're Exhausted
With all that's going on in the world, this excuse is believable. You could say all the stress has wrung you out and it made you forget to pack your kit, to boot! Your gym teacher will probably give you a pass; a mental health day, as it were.
Beware that this excuse might backfire!
It's long been established that exercising is the best thing you can do to boost your mood5. So, if you claim world weariness, beware that your teacher will likely encourage you to exercise to get those endorphins flowing. However, if you look particularly frail and wan as you mewl your exhautions...
8. The Dog Ate My PE Kit
A variation on ‘the dog ate my homework’, this one is worth a try even if the teacher thinks you’re barking mad. “The dog ate my gym kit” is plausible. Dogs are known for their love of chewing on shoes. Who says your trainers were spared his munching?
If you only have a very small dog or even no dog at all, you can still use this reason to ditch class. Simply blame the bullmastiff next door. You can earn yourself an extra eye-roll if you say its name is Fluffy or something else similarly adorable.
Would the same work for cats? Oh, but of course! The cat spit up a hairball on your kit. The cat shredded it with its claws. The cat peed on it and pooped on it... dragged it under the stairs and gave birth on it. If you've ever hoped to be voted class clown, any of these excuses should help you gain votes.
9. Equine Intervention
We’ve heard of divine intervention and benign intervention, both of which are hit-and-miss propositions. Now it's time to try an equine intervention.
There you were, merrily making your way to school with your shoes polished, your books neatly stacked and your PE kit pressed and ready for action. All of a sudden, without warning, a dandy highwayman on his black shiny steed galloped up behind you and snaffled your school bag.
Be aware that the more you make your excuse sound like a scene from The Princess Bride, the less likely your reason for not participating will be believed.
If you live in the countryside, you could invoke a ‘livestock intervention’:
- a stampeding bull chased you
- a mooing cow startled you
- a herd was blocking the road
- a cow or sheep 'christened' your gym bag (and you)
Granted, if you live in the heart of London, you might have a harder time pulling this one off. Otherwise, this excuse could work well if you're late to school, too.
10. The Postman
We all know how partial postmen (and postwomen) are to wearing shorts all year round, whatever the weather, right? What if you’d outgrown your kit and chucked out your old gym stuff? You ordered new, only it hasn't arrived yet and it's been three months.
In a related claim, you might say that your freshly-washed gym kit was hanging on the clothesline and someone came by and stole it. You've ordered a new one but it hasn't arrived yet.
Bonus Excuses to Absolve You of Having to Dress Out for Gym
On reflection, it's rather odd that a website dedicated to promoting education and achievement would publish an article instructing students on how to avoid education and achievement.
Still, we just can't resist. Our imagination, collective experience (as gym-averse former students ourselves) and creative vibe lead us to list a few more quasi-believable reasons you might give for skipping gym class.
- Your trainers are too small (and you've yet to buy new ones)
- You're suffering from a flareup of your rare medical condition (you may need to provide proof of that condition)
- Make a paper maché cast and claim your arm is broken.
- You hate your gym teacher and can't stand to be anywhere near them (this works best if the feeling is mutual)
- Participating in gym class violates your right to exercise free will
- You're currently fasting
- Simply don't turn up to PE class; no excuse is given
The main thing is to make the reason you don't want to participate plausible. Teachers are getting wise to these types of shenanigans so you're going to have to put on a BAFTA-worthy performance.
Or you may just conclude that participating in gym class is probably for the best. Especially as working out is a great way to relieve stress while waiting for exam results.
How to Get Out of PE: Resources and References
- GOV.UK. “Bullying at School.” GOV.UK, 2011, www.gov.uk/bullying-at-school. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
- GOV.UK. “School Sport and Activity Action Plan.” GOV.UK, 19 July 2023, www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-sport-and-activity-action-plan#full-publication-update-history. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
- Illustrate Digital. “PE Policy Changes for Schools.” HCR Law, 12 Dec. 2023, www.hcrlaw.com/news-and-insights/pe-policy-changes-for-schools/. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
- National Secular Society. Secularism.org.uk, 2026, www.secularism.org.uk/news/2022/06/dfe-refuses-to-end-faith-school-discrimination-despite-inequalities. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
- University of Maryland. “How Exercise Can Boost Your Mood.” UMMS Health, 11 June 2020, health.umms.org/2020/06/11/exercise-mood/. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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How do I miss p.e as I said last week my leg hurt and got my mum to write me a letter she did ( my leg wasn’t hurting) then it was half term how do I miss another p.e lesson
you could say that you are going through some problems which means you are in pain
You dont – — get to your PE lessons !!
yeah hi we have to do cheerleading for a term in sport and i don’t even know how to do a summersault and i have all the mean girls in my class and i’m overweight
my school is really strict about attendance how do i get out of it
i’m sorry you had to be out in a class with all of those types of girls, i’ve skipped p.e. only once this year because of how strict my teacher is and i’m trying to skip today. you can say that they’re rude to you, or are affecting your performance in school and you can say you need to see a counselor about it. that’s just one idea.
Maybe…be confident, you know? Do not let other girls make you feel that way?, If you truly wanna get out of it, I suggest parent notes
hey so i really hate my body and am scared to get made fun of during PE and need a way to get out of PE someone please help
I really dont like pe(that is on the worst tuesdays)im very not as botherd so im like “mam i dont fel gud:(and shes like:oh
I have pe on Tuesdays last period it is so annoying
do you know joe
Same! But Thursdays and it’s a double last two!
I don’t like pe, and I have been bringing notes every pe lesson saying my back is to sore because I broke my back a few years ago and I’m semi healed now. I have been using the as an excuse to get out of pe but my pe teacher is saying I need a doctor’s note now but I don’t have one
I don’t like pe, and I have been bringing notes every pe lesson saying my back is to sore because I broke my back a few years ago and I’m semi healed now. I have been using the as an excuse to get out of pe but my pe teacher is saying I need a doctor’s note now but I don’t have one
Hi there I have pe on Tuesdays and I have high anxiety because I don’t want to wear my uniform, I’m scared of what people say about me and there are rude people in my class and m afraid they won’t talk to me anymore because I’m overweight, do you have any suggestions on how I can not bring my uniform for an excuse
Your body is probably beautiful you be you don’t care what anyone thinks if they can’t see beautiful you are then they are just jealous
whoever wrote this is a genius
No, but I went through it when I was a kid
if your a girl , this excuse usually works most of the time. ive used it to get out of pe and swimming. i pretend im on period, pretty simple even if you arent or havent even started ,teachers probably wont question it. hope this helps
love it so good exuse
i dont like pe and i have to basketball and i never get the ball in the hoop and we have to do a game on monday and i feel like everyone is judging
I’m skipping PE tmr because my friend isn’t doing it and I’ll be theinyk girl to do it. I’ll just say my PE gear is too small and my mam is getting me a new one.
What if your school is strict and likes sports and you have a strict coach what should you do
urghh pe sucks we have it everyday here :/
I’d kms
Oh jeez. I actually just couldn’t do that. I feel so bad for you
This is going 2 be great b/c I’m scared of my PE teachers
Hey Rebecca! Great to hear that you found this useful! Good luck with your next PE class ;)