Head of PE

Mrs S O’Sullivan- sosullivan@ndonline.org

Aims

Physical Education should be an enjoyable experience which is accessible to all learners. Through a variety of activities delivered in a safe, fun environment learners are encouraged to achieve their potential and lead healthy and active lifestyles.

 

Curriculum

Students study the following activities during Key Stage 3:

  • Gymnastics – Balance in Year 7, Rotation in Year 8 and Flight in Year 9
  • Dance
  • Net Games
  • Team Games
  • Health Related Fitness
  • Outdoor and Adventurous Activities

 

Key Stage Four

To encourage our ethos of lifelong participation, students follow an optional pathway in Key Stage 4. Students select from either games, non games or leadership pathways. The activities within each pathway can be decided between the teacher and the group to ensure the pathway best meets the requirements of the group. An example of activities included within the non games pathway could be:

  • Aerobics
  • Fitness suite
  • Trampolining
  • Dance

Students in Year 10 opting for the Leadership Pathway study the Sports Leaders UK Level 1 qualification.

Examination PE

The department offers qualifications in BTEC Sport and BTEC Public Services. Typical units covered in BTEC Sport are:

  • Fitness Testing
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Practical Sport
  • Leadership

BTEC Public Services units include:

  • Public Service Skills
  • Fitness Testing for Public Services
  • Citizenship and Public Services

 

Key Stage 5

Currently the department offers Level 3 BTEC Sport. Units can be tailored to meet the strengths of the cohort but typically consist of:
Principles of anatomy and physiology in sport

  • The Physiology of Fitness
  • Assessing Risk in Sport
  • Fitness Training and Programming
  • Fitness Testing for Sport and Exercise
  • Sports Coaching
  • Exercise Health and lifestyle

 

Assessment

Students are given regular verbal feedback during lessons and in addition peer assessment is widely used in dance and gymnastics. Written targets are set by the teacher termly and recorded in the student planner.

In Key Stage 3 students are assessed in the following processes: developing skills in physical activity; making and applying decisions; developing physical and mental capacity; evaluating and improving; and making informed choices about healthy and active lifestyles. Students have an assessment grid which their teacher completes during each unit. Not every process is assessed with every block of work, but each process is assessed repeatedly throughout the Key Stage ensuring students have the opportunity to make progress.