Physical Education

Why study PE?

In PE, pupils are offered a unique platform where they can promote their physical development and well-being. PE allows pupils to strive and excel through varied sporting experiences and helps develop confidence, social skills and leadership opportunities.

Throughout PE, pupils are able to explore, identify and evaluate their own experiences in sport and gain the confidence they need to be part of a team, work tactically and develop the skills needed to become leaders in chosen areas.

PE allows pupils to master in specific sports through enrichment and allows pupils to compete against other Berkshire schools. PE allows pupils to improve their mental, social, and physical health by offering pupils a broader curriculum and enrichment clubs.

The curriculum is designed with progression through motor skills, rules, strategies and tactics and the promotion of healthy participation.

How will I study PE?

Pupils study PE through both declarative and procedural knowledge. The curriculum is sequenced to maximise the pupils to know and do more in PE. Progression of knowledge is built over time from simple to complex through a range of physical activities and sports. Activities are selected for pupils to recall prior knowledge and apply similarities and differences between selected activities.

What will I study at Key Stage 3?

Pupils will study a wide range of physical activities in KS3. They will learn the importance sports has on improving physical, mental and social well-being. We embed fundamental skills (running, jumping, throwing, balance, coordination) through a variety of sporting activities. Pupils will grow in knowledge and experience of games (netball, futsal, badminton, rounders, basketball) and in gymnastics and creative movement. Pupils will also learn leadership skills including the ability to officiate sporting matches.

Pupils will experience competitive sports and performance in Winter and Summer sports days and through competitive game experience. They will learn about how their body adapts and changes (long and short term) due to physical activity. They will understand basic theory (muscles, bones, components of fitness) and apply this knowledge practically.

The study of outdoor adventurous activities helps to develop their problem-solving skills, communication and language skills, decision-making, risk-taking, teamwork, social and leadership skills.

Throughout KS3, table tennis is introduced and developed, and all pupils are given the opportunity to gain an officiating award in Table Tennis. Pupils will participate in indoor and Field Athletics.

We link sports to sporting events in our learning, for example, Wimbledon to tennis, FIFA World Cup to football, athletics to the Olympics, and games included in the Commonwealth Games.

What will I study at Key Stage 4?

In Physical Education in KS4 Core, we build upon the skills learnt during KS3 and focus on sports for life.

Pupils can opt to study Cambridge National Sports Studies as an options subject. The Cambridge National in Sport Studies encourages students to think for themselves about the study of sport and the application to real life practical sport, leadership and evaluation of the skills required. In addition, they also explore contemporary issues in sport, different ways of being involved in the sports industry, and the impact of sport on wider society.

The course covers.

• How technology is used in sport.
• How to develop as a team player and leader
• Plan, deliver and evaluate your own sports activity session
• The connection between sport and media, and the different ways that sport is represented.w

The Cambridge National in Sport Studies takes a sector-based focus, whilst also encompassing some core sport/physical education themes. Learners have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge about different types of sport and physical activity, skills development and sports leadership to their own practical performance. They will learn about contemporary issues in sport such as funding, participation, ethics and role models, and sport and the media. Learners will develop an appreciation of the importance of sport locally and nationally, different ways of being involved in sport and of how this shapes the sports industry.

Assessment at Key Stage 4

You will study for a Cambridge National Certificate in Sports Studies. This equivalent to a GCSE. The grades available are Distinction*, Distinction, Merit and Pass. Your final grade is made up of 4 units:

• Contemporary Issues in Sport: written exam paper (1 hour and 15min)
• Performance and leadership (including being assessed in 2 sports): completed and assessed in school, moderated by OCR
• Sport and the media: completed and assessed in school, moderated by OCR

Enrichment

PE offers subject-specific enrichment clubs and the faculty organise a range of educational visits throughout the year.
PE offers ‘have-a-go’ style clubs and enrichment, as well as competitive opportunities and teams. Pupils can take part in school-wide competitions, as well as representing the school in local and national competitions and leagues.   Sporting equipment is available for pupils to borrow during lunchtime and break.

Careers

A good grade in Sports Studies will allow pupils to choose a Level 3 course in sports related subjects and further study that could eventually lead to a career within the sporting industry.  It will also show that you have a broader range of skills, both physically and socially.

Physical education lends itself to a range of careers in sports and fitness as well as other industries that you may not have considered before. For example, did you know that many nutritionists, physical therapists and chiropractors have a degree in PE? Some careers that you could consider doing with PE include:

• Sports science
• PE teacher
• Physiotherapist
• Professional sportsperson
• Sports coach/consultant
• Sports policy at local and national level
• Diet and fitness instructor
• Personal trainer