
Curriculum Intent
Through the study of PE we aim to enable students to:
- Develop an understanding of the importance of health and fitness and ways to develop a healthy, active lifestyle.
- Have an understanding of the rules and protocols required to engage in a range of sports and activities.
- Be creative problem solvers and have the capacity to work both independently and interdependently.
- Be persistent learners who learn from their mistakes in order to improve their knowledge and practical performances.
- Transfer their learning across different activities and apply their skills in different contexts.
- Develop decision making skills and ability to evaluate one’s own performances.
- Develop confidence in their own ability and support them to be the best practical performers that they can be.
- Instil the desire and capability to engage in lifelong participation in sport and physical activity.
Key Stage 3
Physical activity plays a significant role in the lives of students at Holcombe Grammar School and, in addition to weekly PE lessons, there are regular opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities in a range of activities, including football, rugby, hockey, cricket and athletics to name but a few. Extra-curricular activities are open to students of all experiences and abilities, with selected students being given the opportunity to engage in a range of inter-school fixtures and competitions.
Pupils receive 1 x 120 minute lesson per week covering a range of sporting activities from table tennis to softball over the course of each year. Emphasis is on improvement & enjoyment and pupils are encouraged to become analytical thinkers as well as accomplished performers. Students are given the opportunity to work both independently and interdependently and are encouraged to develop a range of inter-personal skills, including leadership and communication.
Year 7
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
Rugby
Table Tennis Fitness |
Badminton
Rugby Gymnastics |
Hockey
Basketball Handball |
Hockey
Handball |
Athletics | Short Tennis
Cricket |
Year 8
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 | |
Rugby
Badminton Football Handball |
Rugby
Badminton Football Handball |
Table Tennis
Fitness Hockey Basketball |
Table Tennis
Fitness Hockey Basketball |
Athletics | Softball
Short Tennis Cricket |
Year 9
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
Components of fitness
Fitness Testing Health and Fitness |
Types of Training
Calculating Intensities Injury Prevention Specific Training Techniques |
Principles of Training
Training Seasons Warm Up and Cool Down Quantitative and Qualitative Data |
Wellbeing
Sedentary Lifestyles Obesity Somatotypes Diet and Nutrition Engagement Patterns and Barriers to Participation |
Commercialisation
Sponsorship Media |
Technology
Performance Enhancing Drugs Hooliganism |
Key Stage 4
What makes Usain Bolt the fastest man on the planet? How does what you eat for breakfast influence your sporting performance? Why might playing on my X Box all day be bad for my health? These are the sorts of issues that are tackled on the GCSE PE course, which has been updated to reflect the ever-evolving world of sport.
High expectations are set of pupils as we aim for you to become familiar with many of the complex terminology and issues related with PE and sporting activity. Throughout the two year AQA course students will receive 2 x 60 minute lessons per week, one of which will be classroom based while the other involves practical performance. Assessment in GCSE PE is comprised of 30% non-exam assessment (NEA) and 70% theory.
If students choose not to study GCSE PE they will continue to receive two hours per week of core PE lessons, with the emphasis on physical activity and application of core skills & decision making into competitive situations.
Theory
This unit is externally assessed through two written examinations, each lasting 75 minutes. Topics assessed include Anatomy and Physiology, Movement Analysis, Sport Psychology, and Physical Training.
NEA
Pupils undertake a range of practical activities, offering three for assessment in the role of either performer or coach. In doing so it is an expectation that pupils taking this course will be participating on a regular basis in competitive sporting activity, either inside or outside of school. One piece of written coursework will involve an analysis of students’ own performance in one practical activity, as well as the identification of the weaknesses in their performance and the planning of appropriate strategies to improve upon these areas.
Taking GCSE Physical Education will be your initial building block to an ever increasing range of degree and sporting career possibilities and the reformed structure facilitates a smooth transition for those students who choose to progress on to study the subject at A-Level.
“Lessons were always engaging and helpful. All topics were covered thoroughly.” (2020 GCSE PE student)
“The teacher was always available to support us and focused on how to answer questions in detail to reach our target grade.” (2020 GCSE PE student)
Year 10
GCSE
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
Components of Fitness
Fitness Testing Health and Fitness Types of Training Calculating Intensities Injury Prevention Specific Training Techniques Principles of Training Training Seasons Warm Up and Cool Down |
Quantitative and Qualitative data
Wellbeing Sedentary Lifestyles Obesity Somatotypes Diet and Nutrition |
Commercialisation
Sponsorship Media Engagement Patterns and Barriers to Participation Technology |
Skill Classification
Goal Setting Performance Enhancing Drugs Hooliganism |
Personality Types
Arousal Information Processing Model Guidance and Feedback |
NEA (written coursework) |
Core
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
Rugby
Badminton Football Handball |
Fitness
Badminton Football Handball |
Table Tennis
Fitness Hockey Basketball |
Table Tennis
Fitness Hockey Basketball |
Athletics | Softball
Short Tennis Cricket |
Year 11
GCSE
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
Skeletal System
Synovial Joints Muscular System |
Respiratory System and Gaseous Exchange; Blood Vessels/Structure of the Heart/ Cardiac Cycle; Mechanics of Breathing and Lung Volumes. Recovery from Exercise; Immediate, Short and Long Term Effects of Exercise | Lever Systems and Mechanical Advantages | Exam Preparation |
Core
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 |
Futsal
Fitness |
Badminton
Fitness |
Handball
Fitness |
Futsal
Fitness |
Years 12 and 13
Students will explore contemporary issues in modern sport and recreation as well as examining the effects of exercise and the relationships between training and performance. Students will enhance their understanding of how elite performers prepare for sports competition as well as finding ways to improve their own performance in selected roles through their greater understanding of the subject.
Year 12
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
Cardiovascular system | Respiratory System | Neuromuscular System
Energy systems |
Energy Systems | Preparation and Training Methods in Relation to Maintaining Physical Activity and Performance
Diet and Nutrition and their Effect on Physical Activity and Performance |
Musculoskeletal System and Analysis of Movement; Biomechanical Principles and Levers
Angular Motion |
Year 13
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 |
Injury Prevention and the Rehabilitation of Injury
Preparation and Training Methods in Relation to Maintaining Physical Activity and Performance Personality Attitudes Arousal Anxiety |
Information Processing
Hoal setting Group Cohesion Leadership Self Efficacy Aggression Social Facilitation |
Linear Motion
Angular Motion Projectile Motion Fluid Mechanics Motivation Attributions Ethics Violence in Sport |
Drugs in Sport
Sport and the Law Commercialisation Technology in sport |
Online Learning Support
There are a range of on-line resources that students can access in order to further their understanding and interest in the subject, including:
- GCSE bitesize
- GCSE pod
- Seneca learning
- Alevelpe.com
- Teachpe.com
Careers
Students have progressed onto careers in teaching, sports coaching, sport development, leisure management, physiotherapy and sports psychology, among other things. The GCSE and A-level specifications have an emphasis on the application of knowledge to contemporary sport, as well as the requirement for students to be able to analyse & evaluate ideas. These are skills that prepare students well for Further Education and the wider word of work. The diverse nature of these courses also equip students with skills and knowledge that are transferable to a variety of contexts and job opportunities.
British Values
The study of physical education supports and encourages a range of British Values:
Democracy – Pupils are taught about the need for different roles and different responsibilities, including team work and decision making. Pupils know how to behave in PE in a way that is acceptable socially.
Pupils understand and accept the roles of the captain and team players.
Pupils can work individually and in teams and make informed choices.
Pupils are fully engaged in all lessons.
The extra-curricular programme is inclusive and activities are well attended.