Physical Education

We offer a diverse and exciting core PE curriculum that meets the physical, emotional and social needs of all our students. In year 9 students participate in blocks of learning that focus on developing key concepts of sports – both traditional and modern. Throughout the year students have opportunities to participate in activities such as Netball, Football, Rugby, Dance, Trampolining, Dodgeball, Basketball, Health & Fitness, Athletics, Rounders, Outdoor Education and many other sports.

In Year 10 the students develop their skills in the sporting activities explored in Year 9 with new activities being introduced such as Tchoukball and Handball. In Year 11 students choose pathways of learning depending on their personal preference as we emphasise that the students need to use their Core PE lessons as a mechanism to have fun, enjoy and de-stress from exam pressures! Students can choose from 4 different pathways;

• Aesthetic activities such as dance, gymnastics and trampolining etc.
• Competitive invasion sports such as basketball, football and handball etc.
• Fitness pathway which involves fitness challenges and using the fitness suite etc.
• Leisure and recreation pathway where the activities are lesson competitive and more focussed on learning new skills and boosting confidence within PE.

Level 2
This option is chosen as part of the GCSE / BTEC Options at the end of Year 9.

• BTEC Level 1/2 First Award in Sport

Course Content:

This qualification is equivalent to one GCSE and offers students the opportunity to develop different types of skills through a range of exam and coursework units across the two years of the qualification. The students learn a range of skills such as team work, resilience, communication, problem solving, evaluation and analysis all of which are transferrable skills that can be utilised whilst progressing on to the Level 3 qualification or when stepping into the world of work.

Here are the unit’s that the students will study over the two years of the qualification;

Year 10:

Unit 1 – Fitness for Sport and Exercise (Exam)

In this unit pupils will learn about the components of fitness and the principles of training, explore different fitness training methods and investigate fitness testing to determine fitness levels

Unit 3 – Applying the Principles of Personal training (Coursework)

In this unit pupils will design a personal fitness training programme, know about the musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems, implement a self-designed personal fitness training programme to achieve own goals and objectives and then review a personal fitness training programme.

Year 11:

Unit 2 – Practical Performance in Sport (Coursework)

In this unit pupils will learn and understand the rules, regulations and scoring systems for selected sports, practically demonstrate skills, techniques and tactics in selected sports and be able to review sports performance.

Unit 6 – Leading Sporting Activities (Coursework)

In this unit pupils will learn the attributes associated with successful sports leadership, undertake the planning and leading of sports activities and then review the planning and leading of these sports activities.

Level 3

This option is chosen as part of the A Level Options at the end of Year 11.

• BTEC National Level 3 Extended Certificate in Sport

Course Content:

This qualification is equivalent to one A Level and offers a broad basis of study for the sport sector. The qualification is designed to support progression to higher education. Students are given opportunities to develop different types of skills through a range of exam and coursework units across the two years of the qualification. The students learn a range of skills such as cognitive and problem-solving skills, intra and interpersonal skills, resilience, communication skills and many others. All the skills are transferrable skills that can be utilised whilst progressing on to the Higher Education or when stepping into the world of work.

Here are the unit’s that the students will study over the two years of the qualification;

Year 12:

Exam Unit 1.5-hour exam – Unit 1: Anatomy & Physiology (120GLH)

Learners explore how the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems function and the fundamentals of the energy systems.

Coursework Unit – Unit 3: Professional Development in the Sports Industry (60GLH)

Learners explore the knowledge and skills required for different career pathways in the sports industry. Learners will take part in, and reflect on, a personal skills audit, career action plan and practical interview assessment activities.

Year 13:

Exam Unit 2.5 hour synoptic exam – Unit 2: Fitness Training & Programming for Health, Sport and Well-being (120GLH)

Learners explore client screening and lifestyle assessment, fitness training methods and fitness programming to support improvements in a client’s health and well-being.

 Coursework Unit – Unit 4: Sports Leadership (60GLH)

Learners study what makes a good leader, the different capacities of this role, and the leadership skills and techniques necessary when leading activities in different roles.

As an active member of Sainsbury’s School Games and having achieved the school games gold kitemark for high levels of commitment to the development of competition across school and the community. Our department is proud to deliver all of our lessons with a clear focus on ‘The Spirit of the Games Values’ which spotlights on personal excellence through competition. The six values are passion, belief, respect, determination, honesty and teamwork. These values were developed by young people to identify what the experience of school sport should be built around. These values have been successfully applied to all of our lessons to develop a range of behaviours, qualities and inter-personal skills with our students based on sporting experiences, scenarios and attitudes. ‘The Spirit of the Games’ supports and is underpinned by the schools SMSC statement.

Spiritual Development in PE

During the range of activities that students participate in, whether core PE lessons, BTEC Sport lessons or extra-curricular PE sessions students develop a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them. Students are consistently encouraged to use their imagination and creativity in their learning, and showcase a willingness to reflect on their experiences.

Year 9:

• Key stage three, gymnastics and trampoline lessons allow students to be creative in sequences and choreography
• Through the medium of Dance – Expressing personal, emotional and spiritual concepts through dance.

Year 10:

• Outdoor and adventurous activities students have the opportunity to use imagination to solve problems.

Year 11:

• Yoga lessons in core PE

Additional activities for all years including extracurricular clubs

• Students complete a coaching unit in BTEC Sport, supporting students discovery of themselves and others
• Units of work focusing on Team building – Motivation, determination and character building

Moral Development in PE

PE in general teaches students about code of conduct, etiquette, handshake before and after matches, applauding the opposition, fair play, unwritten rules and sportsmanship. In every lesson students abide by the rules and regulations, gaining a good understanding of rules of sport and the importance of infringements such as penalties and red cards allow students to understand the consequences of their actions which in turn helps students apply this understanding to their own lives.

The concepts of self-discipline to excel are essential. Students are taught that the only way you can achieve in sport to a high standard is if you work hard and if you can discipline yourself to train and apply yourself.

• Year 9 : Sports leadership academy, delivering sport to KS2/3 following school games expectations understanding rules and regulations in sport and implementing these in lessons.
• Year 10 & 11 : Concepts of right and wrong and learning sportsmanship, demonstrating these in lessons are keenly developed in Core PE
• Sixth form : Level 3 BTEC Sport  consists of applying for jobs within the sports sector

Additional activities for all years including extracurricular clubs

• Praise postcards regularly sent home
• Rewards events – Sports Awards
• Leadership Academy
• Sports Relief
• During Sports Festival students create banners and house chants that are respectful and competitive. They also support each other’s within their house to complete tasks.
• Students give up their free time and put in a lot of effort to support others.

Social Development in PE

Students in PE use of a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with Students from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. The willingness to participate in a variety of social setting, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively. An interest in, and understanding of, the way communities and societies function at a variety of levels.

In lessons:

Many practical lessons provide students with the chance to lead warm-ups, skill practices and officiate games to enhance social skills.

Sports Teams and Activities:

• Sports activities and teams ran at lunchtime and after-school focuses upon developing student’s social skills such as meeting new people, communicating with others and how to communicate with adults i.e. referees.
• Team captains are integral to our sports teams, liaising with everyone in the team and often having to speak and work with the opposing teams from all over the country. Students not only play against other schools within the Region but also nationally.

Additional activities for all years

• Change4Life sports club
• Sports Fest.
• Regional and national sports competitions – e.g. Anti-racism week – all students
• Sports Leaders organise, manage and run various sporting festivals throughout the year.

Cultural Development in PE

The PE department encourages a willingness to participate in sporting opportunities that will help to develop positive attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.

The PE department encourages a willingness to participate in sporting opportunities that will help to develop positive attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.

Year 9 – 11:

• Through Dance in years 9 -11 – expression of different cultures for example Bollywood, Salsa and Lindy hop

Sixth form

• Learning about different cultures and beliefs in our Level 3 course.

 Additional activities for all years including extracurricular clubs:

National School Sports Week provides students to taste many cultural aspects from around the world. During the week students taste different themed food from around the world, complimented with associated music.

Introduction to sport from around the world –

• Gaelic Football (Ireland)
• Softball (America)
• Volleyball (America)
• Handball (Denmark, Sweden & Germany)
• Tchoukball (Switzerland)