PE

‘Physically educated persons are those who have learned to arrange their lives in such a way that the habitual physical activities they freely engage in make a distinctive contribution to their wider flourishing.’ – James MacAllister

The Physical Education Department strongly believes in providing opportunities for all our students. We aim to provide an enjoyable, quality and varied curriculum which meets the needs and abilities of all our students, thus ensuring that they strive to pursue sport and physical activity as a lifestyle choice outside of the school.

Key Stage 3

All students have 4 x 1 hour PE lessons per fortnight where boys and girls are taught separately. There are some mixed groups at this Key Stage to provide additional support with fundamental motor skills.

Lessons are taught in activity blocks. Each block is divided into 6-10 lessons with schemes of work broadly followed. Students have the opportunity to learn and compete in games, individual, aesthetic and problem-based activities. These include: football, rugby, netball, rounders, basketball, handball, badminton, tennis, trampolining, gymnastics, health and fitness, athletics and OAA.

The curriculum follows guidelines set by the National Curriculum in PE:

‘Pupils should build on and embed the physical development and skills learned in key stages 1 and 2, become more competent, confident and expert in their techniques, and apply them across different sports and physical activities. They should understand what makes a performance effective and how to apply these principles to their own and others’ work. They should develop the confidence and interest to get involved in exercise, sports and activities out of school and in later life, and understand and apply the long-term health benefits of physical activity.’

Pupils should be taught to:

• Use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games (for example, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, netball, rounders, rugby and tennis)

• Develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports (for example, athletics and gymnastics)

• Perform dances using advanced dance techniques within a range of dance styles and forms

• Take part in outdoor and adventurous activities which present intellectual and physical challenges and be encouraged to work in a team, building on trust and developing skills to solve problems, either individually or as a group

• Analyse their performances compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best

• Take part in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs.

At Key Stage 3 students take part in inter-house and inter-form competitions, National Schools Sports Week, annual Sports’ Day and have the opportunity to compete in district, county, regional and national competitions across a number of different sports.

Learning is continuously assessed during each block of activity and through core assessment tasks. At set points throughout the year this is reported to parents.

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4, the majority of students have four hours of core PE over a fortnight. Boys and girls are taught separately, unless in a mixed group to provide additional support with fundamental motor skills.

Lessons are taught in activity blocks. Each block is divided into 6-8 lessons with schemes of work broadly followed.

Students have the opportunity to learn and compete in games, individual, aesthetic and problem-based activities. These include: football, rugby, netball, rounders, basketball, handball, badminton, tennis, trampolining, gymnastics, health and fitness, athletics and OAA.

The curriculum follows guidelines set by the National Curriculum in PE

‘Pupils should tackle complex and demanding physical activities. They should get involved in a range of activities that develops personal fitness and promotes an active, healthy lifestyle.’

Pupils should be taught:

• Use and develop a variety of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in team and individual games

• Develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports

• Take part in further outdoor and adventurous activities in a range of environments which present intellectual and physical challenges and which encourage pupils to work in a team, building on trust and developing skills to solve problems, either individually or as a group

• Evaluate their performances compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement across a range of physical activities to achieve their personal best

• Continue to take part regularly in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs.

At Key Stage 4 students take part in inter-house, annual Sports’ Day and have the opportunity to compete in district, county, regional and national competitions across a number of different sports.

GCSE

The Pearson Edexcel (9-1) in Physical Education consists of two externally examined papers and two non-examined assessment components.

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport

This qualification is equivalent to two A levels

Students follow three compulsory core units and one optional unit:

Unit 1: Anatomy and Physiology

Unit 2: Fitness training and programming for health, sport and well-being

Unit 3: Professional development in the sports industry

Unit 4: Coursework

Careers

With the number of transferable skills within A Level PE and BTEC Sport, students are well placed to continue onto university or college, through a degree in subjects such as Sports Studies, Physiotherapy, Teaching and Leisure & Recreation Management. Future careers can include: Teaching, Physiotherapy, Sports Psychologist, Sports Marketing and Journalism, Sports Business Management, Events Co-ordinator,