Physical Education

All students have four hours of timetabled PE per fortnight. At Key Stage 3 pupils 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 understand what makes a performance effective and how to apply these principles to their own and others’ work. They 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.

The aim of our KS3 PE Curriculum is to ensure that all students:

• Lead a healthy and active life;

• Approach competition with confidence;

• Perform in a broad range of physical activities;

• are resilient to challenges in physical activity, sport and wider life;

• seek enjoyment and fulfilment through movement.

Our KS3 PE curriculum is designed to allow all students achieve the 3 pillars of progression in PE: Motor Competence, Rules, Strategies & Tactics and Healthy Participation. From September 2022 we have moved to a 'concept curriculum' that teaches students to Know What (Know) Know How (Show) Know When & Why (Grow).

In Year 7 the curriculum focus is on developing physcial literacy through motor competence, confidence, knowledge and understanding and motivation. In Year 8 the focus is on personal devlopment through communication, resilience, emotional intelligence and intra-personal skills. In Year 9 the curriculum focus is on character development through sporting values, redefining competition, problem solving and the power of positivity.

At KS4, all students have four hours of timetabled PE/Games per fortnight. These lessons provide students with the opportunity to continue to develop their skills and abilities in a range of sports and activities, but also help to promote and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Our KS4 curriculum continues to develop the five outcomes of high quality PE through the concept curriculum. From September 2022 we have moved to a 'concept curriculum' that teaches students to Know What (Know) Know How (Show) Know When & Why (Grow). Students who select to study GCSE PE will have additional PE lessons on their timetable. In Year 10, the curriculum focuses on the development of leadership skills by creating opporuntities for self reflection, effective teams and attitudes and behaviours. In Year 11 the focus is on abeing active for life.

Students can choose to study GCSE PE as an academic subject at KS4. Students who choose to study academic PE will have an additional five PE lessons per fortnight in addition to their KS4 Games lessons.

GCSE PE will suit students who are interested in sport and play regular competitive sport inside and/or outside the school. The GCSE PE course covers the following topic areas:

• Applied Anatomy & Physiology
• Anaerobic & Aerobic Exercise
• Movement Analysis
• Physical Training
• Sport Psychology
• Socio-Cultural Influences
• Commercialisation
• Ethical Issues
• Health & Fitness
• Use of Data

Our KS5 students have one hour of timetabled Games per fortnight on their programme of study. Students select the activity that they want to take part in and the aim it to promote and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

Students can choose to study A Level PE or Level 3 CTEC Sport as an academic subject at KS5.

A Level PE builds on the student’s experience from Key Stage 4 and GCSE to enhance their knowledge and increase their understanding of the factors that affect performance and participation in physical education. Students will learn about factors affecting participation in physical activity and sport and those that affect optimal performance. Topic areas include anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, skill acquisition, sport and society, sport psychology and technology in sport.

The Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Sport and Physical Activity has been designed as the perfect vocational alternative to A Level Physical Education. This qualification aims to develop students’ knowledge, understanding and skills of the essentials of Sport and Physical Activity. Students will gain an insight into the Sport and Physical Activity industry.