Year 9
Core PE
All Year 9 students receive one double period of Physical Education each week. They are taught in mixed ability, mixed gender groups of approximately 15 to 18 students. There are two members of the PE staff in each lesson. During the year the aims of the course are:
- To develop a range of skills and increase the confidence of the students in a number of activities.
- To introduce the principles of adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To teach the skills required to achieve this, and to understand the effect of exercise on the body.
- To develop an understanding of the need to prepare their bodies for exercise, how to achieve this, and then to recover from exercise.
- To provide the opportunities to plan and evaluate their own performances and that of others. Additionally, to begin to think about the tactics and strategies required to outwit opponents in different situations. There is particular reference to team play and the individual’s role within teams leading to co-operative activities as well as competitive ones.
- To provide a challenging and enjoyable experience which allows all students to achieve their potential and to learn the social benefits of active participation in sporting activities.
These aims will be achieved via units of work including swimming, major games including ball games, racket games, gymnastics, dance and athletics. The courses are designed to encourage and allow achievement at all levels. We ensure that all students learn to enjoy participating in a range of activities.
Years 10 and 11
Core PE
The Physical Education curriculum is taught by three male and two female specialist teachers to all students for two periods per week throughout the Years 10 and 11. The courses include both theoretical and practical elements with a strong emphasis upon Health Related Fitness and Personal and Social Education, particularly in the final year. Individual, group and team situations are used to convey these principles and include water-based activities, racket sports, athletics, volleyball, basketball, circuit and weight training.
The curriculum is constructed to cater for and to challenge the full ability range and to develop a broad base of movement and motor skill competence. Classes are taught in co-educational groups whenever possible.
GCSE Physical Education [OCR]
Candidates will sit 40% of the examination by one 1¾ hour written paper, with the remaining 60% being assessed via their practical performance in four different sports. These sports must come from at least three of the following National Curriculum areas:
- games
- gymnastic activities
- dance
- athletic events
- outdoor and adventurous activities
- swimming
As well as performing in their chosen sports, candidates will be expected to analyse the performance of other people either live or on video in at least one of their chosen sports. The students also have the opportunity to fully develop their skills in their chosen activities.
The theoretical written paper covers areas such as Anatomy and Physiology, Factors affecting Participation in Physical Activity and Safety Aspects of Physical Activity. This course provides a natural progression from Year 9 core work to the A-level, and has proved very popular with students in the past. The course is an exciting and challenging introduction to some important aspects of Sports Science and draws upon examples from British and World sporting events. Sport is becoming ever more important in Britain and the course helps the students understand its role in British and World societies.
Sixth Form
Physical Education [OCR]
This course provides a natural progression from GCSE Physical Education, although it is possible to study the course without previous PE examinations.
Year One concentrates on the core studies of Anatomy and Physiology, Skill Acquisition and Contemporary Studies and the improvement of performance through critical analysis. Year Two further develops these areas through specialised courses in Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Psychology of Sport and the History of Sport. The second year of the course allows the candidates to apply all of their knowledge to the synoptic elements of the course in the practical element.
The work covered in Year One to AS-level is examined in two exams of 1½ and 1¼ hours respectively and through coursework of a practical nature based on the candidate's performance in two chosen activities. The A2 work is examined in the module exams at the end of the Upper Sixth: this occurs through two exams lasting 1½ and 1¼ hours respectively. Two practical activities also contribute 30% of the final marks and are assessed internally and moderated by the Boards.
This is an interesting, broadly based, challenging course combining practical skills and theoretical knowledge, providing a good start for anyone interested in a career in the leisure industry (the world's fastest growing industry). The course is universally accepted as a rigorous A-level and students from previous years have gone on to study law, criminology, sports technology, sports science, land management and economics amongst others.
We have been able to organise for our A-level students a visit by two of the examiners for the course to run revision sessions at the beginning of the Summer term before the exam. This is entirely voluntary and the cost is borne by those students attending the course which is over a weekend. In previous years all students have attended and benefited greatly. The cost last year was £70 per student spread amongst 25 students.