Physical Education

Key Stage 3 PE

At KS3 all pupils follow a broad and balanced program of activities that will allow them to experience a range of roles and develop the key skills and processes that pupils need to learn to make progress.

These key skills include:

• Developing skills in physical activity
• Making and applying decisions
• Developing physical and mental capacity
• Evaluating and improving
• Making informed choices about healthy, active lifestyles

During KS3 students will cover at least four of the following, through a variety of activities, as part of their Physical Education Programme of Study:

• outwitting opponents, as in games activities
• accurate replication of actions, phrases and sequences, as in gymnastic activities
• exploring and communicating ideas, concepts and emotions, as in dance activities
• performing at maximum levels in relation to speed, height, distance, strength or accuracy, as in athletic activities
• identifying and solving problems to overcome challenges of an adventurous nature, as in life saving and personal survival in swimming and outdoor activities
• exercising safely and effectively to improve health and wellbeing, as in fitness and health activities.

During the key stage pupils will be offered the following opportunities that are integral to their learning and enhance their engagement with the concepts, processes and content of the subject.

The curriculum will provide opportunities for pupils to:

• get involved in a broad range of different activities that, in combination, develop the whole body
• experience a range of roles within a physical activity
• specialise in specific activities and roles
• follow pathways to other activities in and beyond school
• perform as an individual, in a group or as part of a team in formal competitions or performances to audiences beyond the class
• use ICT as an aid to improving performance and tracking progress
• make links between PE and other subjects and areas of the curriculum.

Edexcel GCSE Physical Education

What is GCSE Physical Education all about?

PE will offer you the opportunity to develop your skills in a wide range of sports and activities and help you improve your own performance. You will learn about exercise, how the body works to help you exercise and then through training how performance can be improved.

Will I enjoy this course?

The course is practically based and involves participating in a range of practical activities as well as developing the knowledge to improve your own ability in these activities. For pupils who enjoy sport this will therefore be a very enjoyable course.

How does it follow on from what I have learned before?

You will have already been taught a variety of different activities in your PE lessons. This course will help you to build upon these basic skills. You will develop the analytical skills necessary to look at and improve your own performance.

What about exams?

There is one exam at the end of the course, which will test your knowledge and understanding of the theory element of the course. The exam will be 1 hour and

45 minutes and involve short questions that enable you to apply your understanding of the factors affecting participation.

Is there any coursework?

Throughout the course you will be learning and developing new skills and techniques through a range of different activities. The final coursework mark is worth 60% of the total mark and you will need to offer four activities for assessment. The course is also designed to develop your ability to observe and analyse different performances. In the final assessment you will need to analyse performance in one of your four chosen practical activities.

What other skills might I develop?

Physical education allows you to develop a wide range of personal skills through the involvement in physical activity. At the same time the need to analyse performance will often involve using ICT as a basis for studying and reviewing different performances.

What could I do next with GCSE Physical Education?

A good grade at GCSE will help you move on to any AS, Advanced GCE or Advanced VCE course. If you enjoyed your Physical Education GCSE, you might want to continue with the subject onto the Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Physical Education course. Alternatively, you may wish to consider a more vocationally related course such as Leisure and Recreation. Employment opportunities where your skills will be particularly valued include the sport and leisure industry, travel and tourism and teaching. Or you may wish to follow this course for its own sake because you are interested in fitness and health and enjoy physical activities.

AQA A-Level Physical Education

Make a healthy living

Sport & fitness is a huge industry… and you can be part of it. If you’re keen on sport you can make a healthy living from your passion. Whether that’s working for a football club, as a personal trainer at the local gym, or training to be a physiotherapist, there are lots of opportunities. From professional sport through to amateur teams and individuals who just want to get in shape, sport and fitness is a fast-growing business. Best of all, you could be in a career doing something that you love.

The UK is sports mad

Every year more and more people take up sport. And as the UK is hosting the

Olympic Games in 2012, physical education has never played such an important part in society. As somebody working in sports, you’ll be riding the crest of a wave.

Your key learning topics

In the first year there are two main study topics. The first of these covers the beneficial effects of a healthy lifestyle and includes subjects like the physiological effects of exercise and how people acquire sports skills. In the second study topic you’ll learn how to analyse and evaluate an athletes performance, how to improve performance, and the factors affecting gaining new skills. In the second year you’ll have two main study topics again.

The first continues with the theme of optimising the performance of an athlete. This includes how physiology can improve performance for elite athletes, as well as studying the important topics within sport today. The second study topic looks at performance in competitive situations. This includes the observation and analysis of weaknesses, along with ways of correcting any errors the athlete is making.

On your marks …

In the first year you’ll have two assessments. The first is a written paper which covers the first study topic of the year. This paper accounts for 60% of your marks for the year. The second assessment is a practical exercise where you will marked as a player and/or coach and/or official, depending on your personal goals. This practical assessment is based on the second study topic of the year and accounts for 40% of your marks for the year. A pass is recognised with an AS level.

The assessment for the second year is the same. A two hour paper on the first study topic of the year accounts for 60% of your marks. Then a practical performance in a competitive situation as a coach, official or performer, along with your oral and written presentation on how to correct weaknesses in an athlete, will account for the remaining 40% of marks for the year.  Where will success take me?

The subjects you learn about will be invaluable at a personal level and will help you to be better at sport, no matter what your standard. This A Level also opens up a whole number of career options. Like sport scientist, physiotherapist, or working for a national governing body.

Will it fit in my life?

PE goes well with other subjects. If you want a career in physical education you might also consider courses like Human  Biology. But no matter what your career ambition, if you are passionate about sport, this course is great to take alongside other topics.

PE Kit

Information about the correct school PE Kit can be found on the Uniforms section of the website. Along with advice on what trainers are recommended for use in PE.

Exam Boards

Edexcel GCSE Physical Education

• http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/gcse09/pe/Pages/default.aspx

AQA A Level Physical Education

• http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pe/pe_materials.php?id=08

Extra-Curricular Opportunities 

The department runs a highly successful extra-curricular program which caters for both competitive sport and recreational activities. We have an outstanding tradition of success at local, regional, national and international level with many of our students being selected for county, regional and national squads. The department also takes a lead role in several residential trips including the popular ski course and PGL water sports.

The full extra-curricular timetable can be found here:

• http://www.helsbyhigh.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/pe_extra_curricular_activities_2012.pdf

Department Staff

Head of Department:

• Mr P Park
• Miss R Clarke (2nd in department)

Departmental Team (Full Time):

• Mr M Bennett
• Miss N Wilkes

Departmental Team (Part Time):

• Mr M Smiddy M.B.E.
• Mrs J Robinson

Departmental Support:

• Mr D. Evans: Year 7 & 8 basketball, cross-country and athletics coach
• Mrs V. Edwards: Rowing coach
• Mrs A. Senior: School Sports Co-ordinator
• Mr J. Callaghan: Year 8 football, Rugby 7’s coach
• Mr R. Hargreaves: Year 10 football coach
• Mr D. Mellor: Year 11 football, Year 9/10 cricket coach

Helsby H.S. Sports Honours

TEAM 

* New competition for 2009-10 season only

** England Schools Basketball (ESBBA) merged with England Basketball in 2009-10