PE

The PE curriculum in Years 10 and 11 is compulsory, with all students participating for a minimum of one hour a week. This is separate from GCSE PE.

Core PE in Year 10

Within Core PE, we offer a greater degree of choice over which programme of activities our students follow than they have previously experienced. The aim is to encourage a culture whereby our students will continue in lifelong physical activity and are enthusiastic to participate in the route they have chosen.

They will have the opportunity to participate in more recreational activities or to gain a recognised qualification in:

Sports Leaders Award Level 1, Sports Leaders Award Level 2 and Dance Leaders Award Level 1.

The recreational route works on 5 week activity blocks. Activities may include football, rugby, step aerobics and body toning, trampolining, badminton, use of the fitness suite, basketball, cricket or boxercise.

This subject allows students to explore both practical and theoretical elements of sport and physical activity. The assessment for these courses is both by practical performance and two unit exams.

 

GCSE PE and Cambridge National PE

Students who opt to do GCSE PE or Cambridge Nationals in Sports Studies will have three hours a week in addition to Core PE, with two lessons used for the theoretical elements and one hour for practical activities.

During GCSE PE lessons, students will be assessed in a number of individual and team sports and activities. The practical weighting is 40% of the grade and includes assessment in three sports and an analysis task. This subject allows students to explore both practical and theoretical elements of sport and physical activity. The assessment for this course is both by practical performance and two unit exams.

Theory Assessment

If they are studying on the GCSE PE course overall, 60% of the grade is gained from two written exams at the end of the course, each worth 30% of the total grade. They each cover different elements of the theory taught within the course and explore students’ knowledge in a range of topics linked to human biology and social factors. 

Over the course, the theory content will be taught as follows:

 

 Unit 1

The human body and movement in physical activity and sport

 Unit 2

Socio-cultural influences and well being in physical activity and sport
Year 10
  • Health and fitness
  • Components of fitness and fitness testing
  • The effects of exercise and recovery
  • Aerobic and anaerobic exercise
  • Training seasons
  • Training techniques – altitude
  • Principles of training
  • Training methods
  • Aggression in sport
  • Hooliganism
  • Social groups and the factors effecting participation
  • Health and well-being
  • Nutrition
  • Drugs in sport
  • The commercialisation of sport
  • Sponsorship and the media in sport

If students are studying the Cambridge National course in Sports Studies they complete four units in total, one examination unit and then three coursework units.

At the end of Year 11 all the points from each unit are combined and the students will achieve a Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction* depending on the points gained.

The Units are:

Unit R051: Contemporary issues in sports Assessed by external examination
Unit R052: Developing sports skills Internally assessed

 

Practical activities

Whether they are studying GCSE P.E. or Cambridge National in Sport Studies students will be assessed in number of individual and team sports and activities over the two year course. At the end of the course their best three practical marks plus an assessed analysis task will be submitted.

The activities taught each half term will vary according to the needs of the groups but will be a mixture of both team and individual sports such as: netball, football, badminton, table tennis, trampolining and climbing.

Students should be participating in extra-curricular activities both within and outside of school in order to achieve the highest grades possible.

Assessments

There will be an assessment completed for each unit topic of the course, in both of the theory lessons.

In addition, there will be progress tests (mock exam papers) at the following points in the course:

  • Y10 February and July
  • Y11 November and February

 

Supporting your child

The GCSE PE syllabus your child follows can be found on the AQA website using the following link:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/physical-education/gcse/physical-education-8582

The Cambridge National in Sports Studies specification and course information can be found at:
https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/sport-studies-level-1-2-j803-j813/

There are many websites that would be useful to support their learning in various topics of the theory units, these include:

http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/pe

https://revisionworld.com/gcse-revision/pe-physical-education

http://www.teachpe.com/resources/online-quizzes/ - this has some really useful quick quizzes on various topics