Physical Education
The philosophy of the Physical Education Department is that every pupil should be given the opportunity and encouragement to achieve their potential in a stimulating, informative and safe environment.
“Sport for All and Excellence”
We believe that every pupil should be given the opportunity to achieve their potential and pupils of all abilities are encouraged to achieve the best they possibly can. With this rationale, the department believes that Sport for All and Elite sporting performance can flourish side by side.
Course Outline at Key Stage 3
Lessons are taught in mixed ability, single gender groups. Differentiation within the lesson ensures that students’ abilities are catered for, creating a challenging and stimulating environment.
GCSE Physical Education
The main aim of the GCSE course is to develop students' theoretical knowledge of healthy, active lifestyles and healthy, active bodies.
The course encourages students to:
* Develop an awareness and appreciation of their own and others’ cultures in relation to physical education;
* Encourage creativity and decision-making skills to enable students to plan effectively for performances and to respond to changing situations;
* Prepare students to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career choices;
* Enable students to become increasingly physically competent through being actively engaged in a range of physical activities and to become increasingly effective in their performance in different types of physical activity and roles such as player/participant, leader and official;
* Enable students to develop their ability to engage independently and successfully in different types of physical activity and to develop and maintain their involvement in physical activity as part of a healthy, active lifestyle.
The assessment of PE has two elements:
1. The Theory of Physical Education (40% of the final mark) is examined through an externally set examination which includes multiple-choice, short-answer, and longer-answer questions.
2. Performance of Physical Education (60% of final GCSE) is examined through four assessments from at least two different areas of activity. Also included is analysis of performance and devising and participating in a Personal Exercise Programme.
Students should note that set practical activities are undertaken during the GCSE course. GCSE assessments may be made through GCSE, core PE lessons and extra-curricular clubs. The final decision regarding the four activities will take place in the spring term of Year 11.
Students considering this course should be interested in sport in general and be confident of achieving general competence in at least four activities. There is a significant theory content and an expectation that students will complete written homework tasks.
Further details of the course can be found at:
http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCSE%20New%20GCSE/GCSE_in_PE_Spec_Linear.pdf
A Level Physical Education
Students selecting this course should have a keen interest in sport and recreation and be a self-starter with regards to physical activity and fitness. Students will study theoretical and practical elements.
Unit 1 develops the student’s knowledge and understanding of what constitutes a healthy and active lifestyle. Students will investigate how the body responds and adapts to exercise, the components of physical and skill fitness and different methods of fitness training. The rationale behind carrying out fitness assessments and the protocols associated with recognised fitness tests will also be considered.
Students also develop their knowledge and understanding of how competitive sport has developed over time. The unit is asessment by a written examination.
In Unit 2, students will have the chance to offer two performances from a choice of three roles (player/ participant, leader and official), recording their performance over a period of time. They undertake a study into the provision for all three roles at a local level, followed by a study of the provision for one role at the national level, producing an analysis of their performance relating to at least one of the activities offered in the first task.
Unit 3 develops students' knowledge and understanding of the short and long-term physiological
and psychological preparations made by elite athletes focusing on the technical preparations required (such as the selection of appropriate kit and equipment, the use of training camps, different types of ergonomic aids). Assessment is via a written examination paper.
The final unit allows students to specialise in one practical performance role and use this as a vehicle to construct a development plan to further progress their performance as player/participant, leader or officials. They will also research one of these roles in an international context, taking in grassroots participation, elite performance and other factors.
The Edexcel GCE specification can be found at: