Academic
Physical Education (PE) encourages and challenges pupils to achieve their optimum, both physically and mentally. Pupils will develop through participation in a wide range of individual and team activities, as well as promoting health and fitness across the programme. PE aids young people in developing a range of personal qualities such as self-discipline, determination and independent thinking.
Teaching and learning in the department is fun, with pupils working individually and as part of a team in a variety of activities. All pupils in the Junior School, First Forms to Third Forms, have a double lesson of timetabled PE each week.
During Fourth and Fifth Form, pupils can opt to study PE at GCSE. We follow the OCR syllabus (J587 9-1 course), regularly achieving good results. The qualification in weighted 60% on externally assessed examination elements (consisting of two papers) and 40% on non-examination elements (30% practical performance across 3 sports/activities and 10% written coursework).
In the Sixth form, those opting to study PE have three courses to choose from. We started delivering the OCR A-Level PE course (syllabus H555) in September 2024, appealing to students who have enjoyed GCSE PE, and those who have reached a high level of performance or coaching in at least one sport. The A-Level course gives an excellent opportunity for students interested in sport and physical education to pursue this subject area to a higher standard, gaining wider applicable knowledge and skills in the process.
The course consists of 3 papers, totaling 70% of the course, with the remaining contribution coming from performance in (or coaching in) one sport (15%) and an oral coursework piece (15%). In addition to A-Level PE, we also offer two BTEC Sport courses for students. The first option is the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate, which is equivalent to one A-Level, consisting of four modules studied over the two-year course.
The second option is the BTEC Level 3 Diploma, which is equivalent to two A-Levels, consisting of nine modules studied over the two-year course. Both BTEC courses contain elements of coursework and examination units, looking at different areas in sport. These mixed methods of assessment develop the pupil’s study skills to prepare them fully for the demands of further education.
Please see our Extended Certificate and Diploma curriculum overleaf.
Extended Certificate (1 A-Level)
Diploma (2 A-Levels)
Unit 1 – Anatomy and Physiology
Unit 2 – Fitness Training and Programming
Unit 3 – Professional Development in the Sports Industry
Unit 6 – Psychology in Sport
Same as those on the Extended Certificate, plus,
Unit 4 – Sports Leadership
Unit 5 – Application of Fitness Testing
Unit 17 – Sports Injury Management
Unit 22 – Investigating Business in Sport
Unit 23 – Skill Acquisition in Sport