PE

“Intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong.” John F Kennedy

Purpose

Physical Education at Heath Park is passionate about offering a wide range of opportunities to develop students’ declarative and procedural knowledge of motor competence, rules, strategies and tactics, and healthy participation. We aim to prepare our students by developing their confidence to make informed life choices beyond Heath Park and to lead a healthy and active life. Through Physical Education students become fully equipped with transferable life skills to prepare for life beyond education, including:    

• resilience 
• respect 
• confidence 
• healthy participation 
• effective communication 
• to evaluate and improve 

PE and sport offer a unique platform on which to explore a multitude of holistic learning opportunities. For instance, the ethical or moral controversies in sport can give stimulate debate, reasoning, and critical thinking in the classroom. PE also encourages pupils to be creative and solve problems. By working together, pupils can address physical and intellectual challenges while learning to communicate and manage risk and conflict. 

The subject and its specialists create exciting and engaging learning journeys for all students, embedding key practical and theoretical concepts, with the target of enthusing students to pursue a career in sport and will develop a well-rounded and confident adult who contributes productively to their community. 

Curriculum Features

Core PE (Year 7-11) 

In core PE students will experience a wide range of opportunities to develop their declarative and procedural knowledge of motor competence, rules, strategies and tactics, and healthy participation. Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities, are physically active for sustained periods of time, engage in competitive sport and activities, and lead healthy, active lifestyles.  

Students in KS3 taught to:  

• Use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents  
• Develop their technique to improve performance  
• Develop teamwork, trust, and problem-solving skills through outdoor adventurous activities (OAA)  
• Analyse performance to improve outcomes  
• Take part in competitive sports and activities   
• Develop Resilience, Responsibility, Respect, Reflectiveness, Communication and Confidence  

Students in KS4 (Key Stage 4) taught to:  

• Use and develop a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents.  
• To develop their technique and improve their performance.  
• Take part in further outdoor and adventurous activities in a range of environments which present intellectual and physical challenges, and which encourage pupils to work in a team, building on trust and developing skills to solve problems, either individually or as a group.  
• Evaluate their performances compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement across a range of physical activities to achieve their personal best.  
• Continue to take part regularly in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs.  

BTEC Tech Award in Sport (KS4) 

The Tech Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through realistic vocational contexts. Learners will have the opportunity to develop applied knowledge and skills in the following areas:  

• investigating provisions for sport including equipment and facilities to enhance sport 
• planning and delivery of sport drills and sessions  
• fitness for sport including fitness testing and methodology  

Component 1 

Learners will explore the diverse types of provision of sport and physical activity available for distinct types of participants, barriers to participation and ways to overcome these barriers to increase participation in sport and physical activity. They will also research equipment and technological advances in a chosen sport or physical activity and how to prepare our bodies for participation in sport and physical activity. 

Component 2 

Learners will investigate the components of fitness and their effect on performance, take part in practical sport, explore the role of officials in sport and learn to apply methods and sporting drills to improve other participants’ sporting performance. 

Component 3 

Learners will be introduced to and develop an understanding of the importance of fitness and the diverse types of fitness for performance in sport and physical activity. They will also develop an understanding of the body and fitness testing. 

Enrichment

The PE department offer a wide range of extra-curricular clubs before, during and after school which are open to all, examples include; fitness, basketball, football, gymnastics, dodgeball, tennis, cricket and many more.  

Due to the cross-curricula nature of physical education, it feeds into many career pathways and opportunities. From physiotherapy, sports psychology, and performance coaching to sports marketing, business management and journalism. We enrich our students by providing them with opportunities to experience these sectors with taster sessions at universities.  

We provide several opportunities for enrichment, including visits to: 

• Wimbledon 
• The Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley  
• British Basketball Finals 2023 at Utility Arena Birmingham  
• G+T Martial Arts experience at IKON 
• Worcester Arena Showcase trip to watch Basketball and Netball 
• OAA activities e.g. canoeing, hiking, flying, orienteering through our CCF Cadets  
• West Midlands 3×3 Basketball Tournament at Worcester Arena  
• Participation in Black Country Games, providing leaders to support  
• Aspire to Higher Education (physiotherapy, sport business management)
  

In addition to lessons, pupils have several opportunities to take lead. Sports leadership is an essential part of our provision and students are encouraged to utilise their skills to support the school and wider community by leading warmups and coaching others, leading KS1 and KS2 (Key Stage 2) multi-skills events, the black country games and many more. PE leaders passionately role model a set of high standards that embed the schools/departments shared expectations and are well recognised and praised when they help lead within the community.