Physical Education (PE)

Department Staff

Mr Simon Ball (Director of Sport)
Mr Philip Gostling (Head of Physical Education)
Mr Thomas Dann (Primary Schools Sports Co-ordinator)
Mr Glenn Kirkham (Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator)
Mr Kyle McLean
Mr Gareth Roots

The Physical Education Philosophy

Students are able to work in an environment which is centred around individual achievement, and have the access to opportunities which allow pupils to achieve success in a wide variety of activities.

Teaching & Learning Policy

The strategy adopted and used by the department is based on the following principles:

Well planned lessons which promote individual progression and achievement within an enjoyment environment.
Good student – teacher relationships which allow for a constructive and interactive learning environment.
The use of a variety of teaching and assessment methods within group and individual activities.
A clear delivery of teaching objectives and a lesson structure which allows all abilities to learn and achieve within the lesson.
A natural progression through the curriculum activities within an academic year and across years.

Particularly important in all of these is the student – teacher relationships which are based on mutual respect and an understanding by the teacher of the individual students needs. Liaison with the students tutors are vitally important. Expectations within PE lessons can be found here.

Facilities

A sports studio that can host:
- martial arts
- gymnastics
- table tennis
- fencing
- dance
- circuit training
A large sports hall that can host:
- badminton courts
- two volleyball courts
- two basketball courts
- indoor netball
- indoor Hockey
- indoor football
Six indoor cricket nets
Two squash courts
A large fitness suite
Mini astroturf training area
Gymnasium - sprung wooden floor with gymnastic, martial arts and dance facility
Astroturf pitches - for hockey and 12 tennis courts
Playing fields - 5 rugby pitches and 3 cricket pitches
Five outdoor cricket nets
Long Jump pit
Outdoor netball and tennis court

The Curriculum

From Years 7 to 11, pupils will learn: SAQ, Athletics, Badminton Basketball, Fitness testing and Training, Gymnastics and Vaulting, racket sports and Volleyball. Details can be found in the table below.

There are opportunities to continue these sports in games sessions or extra-curricular sports.

Sixth Formers are offered the opportunity to take coaching and/or officiating courses through the Enrichment Programme.

	Michaelmas	Lent	Summer
Year 7	SAQ Training	Badminton	Gymnastics
	Gymnastics	Athletics	Dance
Year 8	SAQ & Badminton	Basketball/ Netball/ Korfball	Dance
	Gymnastics	Athletics	Racket Sports
Year 9	Fitness Testing	Gymnastics	Athletics
	Basketball/ Netball/ Korfball	Vaulting & Flight	Circuits
Year 10	Badminton	Basketball/ Netball/ Korfball	Athletics
	Methods of Training	Lacrosse	Volleyball
Year 11	Invent A Game	Global Sports	Options
	Fitness Suite Inductions	Volleyball

Curriculum Activities:

SAQ Testing

Pupils in both Years 7 & 8 will complete a series of tests which assess their coordination, strength, speed and agility. A variety of equipment is used to ensure lessons are fun, challenging and enjoyable for all pupils. This module of work allows all pupils to experience an individual sense of progression and success within a relaxed and enjoyable environment.

Gymnastics

Developing strength, coordination and self confidence, Gymnastics allows all pupils to work at individual rates of progression in order to achieve personal or small group goals. The use of a variety of pieces of new equipment, aligned with the use of different teaching methods aim to enthuse and motivate the pupils to discover ways of performing specific sequences of work with flair and control.

Gymnastics naturally leads into the subsequent module of Vaulting and Flight in Year 9.

Dance

This unit of work is loved by all students as it allows pupils to really express themselves through the medium of movement and expression. Pupils learn to coordinate their movements whilst developing team work skills. The pupils have the opportunity to discover ways of creating motifs and patterns of movement which they can then apply to music.

Methods of Training

This unit allows pupils to gain an understanding of the components of fitness and methods of training for specific sports. Pupils learn how to identify which components of fitness are vital for their choice of sport(s) and begin to devise training programs which will allow them to train independently and will ensure a progressive development of specific components of fitness in a safe and controlled manner.

Invent a Game

After several teacher led sessions in which specific key coaching and teaching areas are discussed (demonstrations, feedback, the importance of clearly outlining lesson objectives), pupils are allowed to devise competitive games of their choice whilst working within a group environment. Pupils are given regular opportunities to lead and control a game and ensure that the game flows and progresses at an appropriate rate and in a specific direction which ensures success. This unit is student centred as the pupils discover how best to lead, control and enthuse a team.

Athletics

Within athletics, pupils are mainly focused upon gaining a greater degree of understanding, of how to execute a specific skill and achieve progression, and ultimately a sense of success within a lesson. Lessons are not entirely focused upon achieving results as this opportunity is available through the Athletics Club which offers a pathway to further coaching and performance.

Athletics is seen as a vital tool in ensuring pupils learn and understand the fundamental movement patterns of running, throwing and jumping as well as gaining a sense of achievement and enjoyment.

'A' Level Curriculum

In the Sixth Form, pupils are offered the opportunity to take Physical Education as an AS and A2 level examination. The current examination board is Edexcel where further information and the specification can be found.

Links between Curriculum & Extra-curricular Activities / Clubs

Physical Education is focused upon allowing pupils to achieve personally, within a team or in individual activities. To this extent PE is not elitist and its delivery is differentiated so that all pupils can experience some degree of success, development and subsequently enjoyment and fulfilment.

In order to challenge motivated and enthusiastic pupils, a wide range of extra-curricular activities are available to build upon the knowledge and understanding which pupils are able to gain from our PE Curriculum.

For further details of other sports available, please click here.

Primary and Prep School Links

It is recognised that partnership schemes with local primary and prep schools provide a unique opportunity for students to use equipment and facilities otherwise unavailable to them, and for the staff involved to gain a perspective on the sporting background of prospective students.

ICT in PE

ICT is used frequently within PE lessons and assists the pupils in gaining a greater understanding and knowledge of specific areas of how to execute a specific skill or sequence. It is vital that the PE department provides all pupils who utilise a variety of learning styles with the means to fully understand what is being asked of them and how they can act to improve their performance effectively. The use of the Dartfish analysis package along with the regular use of worksheets, task cards and verbal or visual instructions and demonstrations supports the pupils learning.

A Level candidates are encouraged to make use of our intranet to access specifications, past papers, presentations and information regarding coursework. Candidates are also strongly encouraged to make use of the Dartfish analysis package and assist PE staff with the analysis of group, sequence or individual performances within curriculum lessons.

Differentiation

It is vital to ensure that all abilities are able to achieve an element of progression and success within a PE lesson. Differentiation can be achieved through task (pupils of differing abilities attempt different tasks) or through outcome (pupils of differing abilities achieve different outcomes). Subtle changes to a drill, task or activity can ensure that pupils do achieve an understanding of what is being required.

Various presentation methods also enhance a pupil’s ability to understand and process instructions such as lesson objectives. To ensure understanding, the PE department uses a variety of methods:

Question and Answer
Ask pupil to outline the objectives
Ask pupils to outline rules or laws of drills/ activities/ games

Other strategies that can be employed to enhance differentiation include:

Pairing similar ability pupils together (or working in ability groups)
Pairing a more able (and suitably mature) pupil with a less able pupil (reciprocal teaching)
Assessment for learning strategies where pupils learn through observing and through feedback (this also supports pupils with differing styles of learning).

Years 7 & 8 SAQ testing at the start of the Michaelmas term also highlights the less able pupils. The nature of the tests conducted, lends itself to identifying those pupils who having difficulty with hand-eye co-ordination, upper and lower limb co-ordination and the ability to process instructions and apply them to a practical situation. Less able pupils are then referred to the SEN co-ordinator (following the Whole School policy as laid out in the School Handbook) for further assessment and subsequent support and development both within a PE setting and within the community as a whole.

Assessment and Reports

Members of the PE Department will assess pupils and award specific Attainment Levels when it comes to writing reports. Refer to the attached attainment band template.

Gifted and Talented

Year 7 pupils all complete a series of fitness tests within the first two weeks of PE in the Michaelmas term. The tests are standardised, reliable tests which assess the pupils abilities across several components of fitness. Results are gathered and the top 5- 10% of pupils within the year are invited to attend the Gifted and Talented Club (run by the G & T co-ordinator). Pupils may also join the gifted and talented club upon recommendation from a senior games coach or PE teacher.

Year 8 pupils are also tested at the start of the Michaelmas term. Those involved in the G & T club the previous year are invited back (but can be released) and additional pupils who have achieved scores of the correct standard are invited to join the gifted and talented group.

If you have any queries, please contact us.