Physical Education Curriculum Intent
At Grace Academy Darlaston, our aim is to ensure all children enjoy and are engaged in Physical Education and Sport. Through Physical Education we aim to develop the pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding, so that they can perform with increasing confidence and competence in a range of physical activities.
We aim to improve health, well-being, promote active participation and stimulate a passion for lifelong learning in the aim to fulfil their potential. We aim to ensure that the pupils experience of Physical Education is not only positive and motivating but also challenges misconceptions toward a healthy active lifestyle ensuring this understanding is firmly embedded in our curriculum.
Introducing the secondary PE curriculum which builds on and enhances previous KS2 learning. From this, confidence around core physical skills and basic knowledge and understanding of rules through active participation in various sports. The introduction of assessment strands starts to develop deeper thinking and further increases the development of foundational skill which supports the expansion of physical literacy.
Example of learning journey Year 7
Year 8
Continuing on from the introduction of assessment and development of foundations in Year 7, Year 8 will start the process whereby they broaden and complement the basic knowledge acquisition of skills, rules, and regulations. Tactical, strategical, and analytical knowledge will begin to be introduced into a practical setting enabling the start of increasing confidence and articulation of racy in PE.
Example of learning journey Year 8
Year 9
Year 9 will continue to extend physical and theoretical competency in sports, fitness, and participation. Through the varied sporting activities on offer, alongside the assessment strands, independence, as well as the increased ability to effectively evaluate performance will be encouraged further. The application of tactics and strategy with increased confidence in leadership skills, starts to form links with the love of physical activity and promotion of physical, mental & emotional wellbeing to positively influence lifelong learning in Physical Education. Links to KS4 examination criteria in BTEC is threaded into practical lessons to broaden access for further opportunities in Sport.
KS4 (Year 10 and Year 11)
BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Teach award in Sport – Pearson.
60% Coursework split between 2 Components each worth 30%. 40% External exam –
Component 3 – Developing Fitness to Improve other participants performance in sport and physical activity (1 hour 30 Minutes – Total marks 60).
We also use the learning platform PE classrooms; all students will be given a personal login.
Year 10
Useful websites for revision and additional support: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-tech-awards/sport-2022.html
KS5
Our Year 12 & 13 pupils have the opportunity to complete the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sport. This course follows the Pearson specification and is equivalent in size to 1 A Levels. The course covers a range of topics which include researching the different jobs available in sports industry and understanding how you would go about gaining a job within this sector, a detailed analysis of how the systems of the body work individually and cooperatively when at rest and whilst exercising. Alongside these you will also look at how to develop training programmes and understand how lifestyle factors affect your health as well as understand how to structure and lead
Useful websites for revision and additional support: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals/sport-2016.html
BTEC Level 2
In KS4 students study the BTEC Level 2 offering. Within the teaching of the course, we aim to develop an academic understanding of the effects of physical activity on an individual’s well-being. This further builds on the KS3 physical components of the subject, allowing for the transfer of knowledge from a practical setting to a theoretical one.
Units have been sequenced in order to interleave prior knowledge between units. The “Fitness testing and training” unit builds on the fitness strands completed in KS3 which highlights the key components of fitness and their application to sporting examples whilst developing training knowledge that could be used in later life. The “Practical Sport” unit underpins the understanding of analysis of performance and evaluation of skills deepening the use of higher order thinking. This incorporates the knowledge, concepts and physical skills embedded in the KS3 core curriculum. The final unit “The Body in Action” provides an anatomical approach to the effects of exercise on the body, allowing developments in cross curricular links with science, as well as demonstrating the integral part physical health will play in a student’s life.
The vocational route selected in the department allows for a range of assessment styles which suit the needs of our students. This is complemented by KS4 core PE which continues to develop their physical ability and understanding of physical activity for lifelong learning and enjoyment.
KS5
BTEC Level 3
KS5 students study the BTEC National Level 3. The external units provide an opportunity to broaden understanding of anatomical and physiological effects on the different systems in the body and how they link to sporting performance. This then provides a platform to link to the health and fitness industry to give students the chance to use knowledge and understanding to provide bespoke fitness training programmes and nutritional advice. Internally assessed coursework units allow students to focus on how this course provides professional development in the sports industry and foundations for the future. This continues as an extension of prior learning in BTEC level 2 and in KS3 core PE.
Leadership Unit of Work
Key stage 3 pupils will complete a leadership unit of work as part of their core PE lessons. Within this unit of work the pupils will develop their understanding of the qualities of a leader as well as the structure of a lesson which is separated into three main parts. (warm-up, main activity and cool down)
Learners will also be provided with the opportunity take on different roles and will be given autonomy over their learning environment. These opportunities will arise every two lessons to give the students a chance to learn some of the basic leadership skills and to then apply the skills that they learnt into their next lesson.
The students will have time at the start, during and the end of the lesson to reflect on their learning to see what they are doing well and what they can improve on for next time. During this module there will also be chances for peer-on-peer coaching and more independent work compared to any other sport/module in PE.
Enrichment
The PE department offers a wide range of enrichment activities designed to further develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding while enhancing their learning in lessons. To ensure a broad and diverse experience, the enrichment timetable is updated every term, allowing students to participate in a variety of sports and physical activities throughout the year.
This rotation ensures that pupils are exposed to different sports helping them discover new interests and develop a lifelong passion for physical activity. From traditional team sports such as football, netball, and basketball to individual sports like trampolining, badminton, and athletics the program caters to all abilities and interests. These extracurricular opportunities not only reinforce lesson content but also promote personal growth, teamwork, and overall well-being.
