Physical Education
Our Aim
Intent:
“To create an engaging, safe and productive learning environment where participation and performance are celebrated and the importance of a healthy active lifestyle is embraced by all”
The curriculum allows us to deliver a curriculum that meets the needs of every pupil, allows for progression by every pupil, and nurtures “physical literacy”. As a department lessons will take the approach of a concept curriculum which moves away from sport specific content and instead emphasises “big ideas” that span multiple physical activity disciplines. These concepts are taught through traditional and newly emerging activities and sports (the concept vehicles). However, in PE, pupils are not judged or assessed on how well they perform various sport skills but rather PE concepts that can be applied across a range of disciplines. By shifting the focus of the curriculum and success criteria of each lesson, we are doing so much more than getting pupils active, we are teaching them life skills, developing stronger connections to physical activity and improving the experiences within PE for every child.
This makes the PE curriculum accessible to all and motivates pupils to develop a passion for physical activity that, we hope, will stay with them for life.
Key Stage 3
Our year 7 pupils are offered weekly swimming lessons that enable them to improve their ability and confidence in the water. This is a direct result of the gaps from Key Stage 2. We encourage all pupils to be able to swim at least 25 m and help develop their confidence in various stokes. This progresses to life saving and rescue skills.
In Year 8 and 9 we offer a broad range of both invasive and non-invasive activities in both team and individual activities. We provide a curriculum that has a focus of engagement in a wide range of activities where pupils can show improvement. We assess pupils in baseline fitness assessment such as the aerobic fitness, agility and balance so pupils can identify their strengths and weaknesses. We then build in these so pupils can make progress. We have an alternative fitness training room where some pupils, who find the curriculum inaccessible due to their prior experiences, which include being able to participate in lessons, SEND needs also impact engagement in PE. Here they can become involved in alternative fitness training using rowing machines, indoor cycling or fitness training using a variety of methods. This facility also complements the fitness-testing module for GCSE practical lessons.
Key Stage 4
In year 10 and 11, we focus on mainly competitive sports and focus on developing their skills and understanding for assessment and performance. This involves activities undertaken individually, as pairs and in groups or teams. Pupils explore tactics, strategies and implement skills learnt to a broad range of sporting situations. Pupils are taught to understand and build on their knowledge to answer theoretical questions on how do to improve fitness and performance. They will gain knowledge to develop an understanding of anatomy and physiology, fitness and training and sports psychology. They learn how to test fitness levels and develop understanding that will allow pupils to lead a healthy active lifestyle both now and in the future. In addition we are currently offering pupils to study the Cambridge National Sport Studies course as an option for their GCSE’s. Year 10 pupils are provided with the opportunity to develop leadership & character through the Duke of Edinburgh Award and sports leadership.
