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Physical Education and Games

Departmental approach to the curriculum

Our aim is to provide each child with a broad range of activities and enjoyable experiences within their Physical Education and Games lessons. This can progressively lead to selective specialisation and successful participation throughout the school years and beyond. We strive to ensure that all students are aware of the importance of developing physical fitness and good health habits to promote active lifestyles.

The PE department is an award winning department, winning the Hertfordshire Sports Partnership's 'Secondary School of the Year' award for three consecutive years.

We run a variety of extra-curricular clubs and pride ourselves of providing a range of opportunities for the student community. Students will have the opportunity to experience participation at district, county and national level competitions, as well as engaging with the local School Sports Partnership, which is proudly hosted at Rickmansworth School. The department also organises a number of school trips to further develop student's cultural capital.

Physical education is essential for developing student’s physical and mental well being. In PE students learn how to look after their body and mind as well as learning how to work as a team to overcome challenges. At Rickmansworth the students are given the opportunity to use state of the art facilities:

Sports Hall
Fitness suite
MUGA
Swimming Pool
Fields

These facilities allow students to take part in a wide variety of activities and develop a positive association with physical activity.

Students will have the opportunity to choose PE as an option subject at GCSE and A Level where they will study the OCR syllabus.

Year 7

Students are taught in single sex classes which are streamed by ability. This is to ensure that the curriculum is accessible and enjoyable for all students. This allows students to learn in a positive and appropriate environment to nurture both their level of skill and confidence. The Games curriculum focuses on developing physical skills as well as knowledge and understanding, closely linked with the National Curriculum. Lessons allow students to:

Develop skills in physical activity
Make and apply decisions
Develop physical and mental capacity
Evaluate and improve performances
Make informed choices about healthy, active lifestyles

The PE department runs an extensive House Sports programme covering a number of sports throughout the year. All students will represent their house in a competition at the end of every half term during lessons.

Activities: (Please see detailed breakdown of activity rotation in long term overview) Athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Cricket, Football, Fitness, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Rounders, Rugby, Swimming, Tennis, Handball, Softball and Volleyball.

Year 8

Develop skills in physical activity
Make and apply decisions
Develop physical and mental capacity
Evaluate and improve performances
Make informed choices about healthy, active lifestyles

Year 9

Year 9

Develop skills in physical activity
Make and apply decisions
Develop physical and mental capacity
Evaluate and improve performances
Make informed choices about healthy, active lifestyles

Year 10 and 11

Year 10 & 11

The OCR GCSE Physical Education Syllabus is broken down into 2 written exam papers which are both taken in Year 11. These papers make up 60% of the students' final grade. The students are assessed in three practical activities worth 30% and one analysis of performance task (AEP) worth 10%.

The students will have 5 periods of GCSE PE over a two week time table.

Year 10

Applied anatomy and physiology
Physical training

Year 11

Socio-cultural influences
Sports psychology
Health, fitness and well-being
AEP - coursework component

Component 01: Physical factors affecting performance (30% weighting)

Component 01, Physical factors affecting performance, introduces and explores some of the physical factors which underpin participation and performance in physical activities and sports.

Students will start to explore the ways in which parts of the human body work and function during physical activity and the physiological adaptations that can occur due to diet and training. Students will also develop their knowledge and understanding of the principles of training, why we train in different ways and how training plans can be made to optimise results.

The study of these topics will aid students in the development of both their own practical performance and that of others.

There are two topics:

Applied anatomy and physiology
Physical training

Component 02: Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology (30% weighting)

In Component 02, Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology, students will develop their knowledge of socio-cultural influences that impact on participation and performance in physical activities and sports. Students will also develop their knowledge and understanding of how sport impacts on society.

There are three topics:

Socio-cultural influences
Sports psychology
Health, fitness and well-being

Component 04: Content for non-exam assessment: Practical Performances (10% weighting per activity)

In Component 04, Practical Performances, learners are internally assessed through the NEA in performing three practical activities. Learners are required to demonstrate effective performance, the use of tactics or techniques and the ability to observe the rules and conventions under applied conditions.

Learners must perform in three practical activities:

One from the ‘individual’ list
One from the ‘team’ list
One other from either list

Component 05: Analysing and Evaluating Performance (10% weighting)

In Component 05, Analysing and Evaluating Performance, learners are internally assessed through the NEA in one performance analysis task. They are required to demonstrate their ability to analyse and evaluate their own practical performance or that of a peer in order to:

Analyse aspects of personal performance in a practical activity
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the performance
Produce an action plan which aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of the performance.

Year 12 and 13

Year 12 & 13

The OCR A-Level PE Syllabus is broken down into 3 exam papers which are all taken in Year 13. These papers make up 70% of the students' final grade. The students are assessed in one practical Sport worth 15% and one analysis of performance (EAPI) worth 15%. The students will have 9 periods of P.E over a two week time table

Year 12

Anatomy and Physiology
Exercise Physiology
Skill Acquisition
Sport in Society

Year 13

Biomechanics
Psychology
Contemporary Issues
EAPI

Component 01: Physical factors affecting performance (30% weighting)

Students gain a deeper understanding of key systems in the body and how they react to changes in diet and exercise. They also study the effects of force and motion on the body and how they can be used to our advantage.

There are three topics:

Applied anatomy and physiology
Exercise physiology
Biomechanics.

Component 02: Psychological factors affecting performance (20% weighting)

Students study the models and theories that affect learning and performance in physical activities, how different methods of training and feedback work and why their effectiveness differs from person to person. They also explore the psychological factors that affect group dynamics and the effects of leadership and stress.

There are two topics:

Skill acquisition
Sports psychology.

Component 03: Socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport (20% weighting)

This component focuses on the social and cultural factors that have shaped sports over time, and their influences on physical activity. Students consider the impact of hosting a global sporting event such as the Olympic Games, and the influence of modern technology on both the performer and the spectator of contemporary sport.

There are two topics:

Sport and society
Contemporary issues in physical activity and sport.

Component 04: Performance in physical education (15% weighting)

Students are assessed in the role of either performer or coach in one practical activity. They are required to demonstrate effective performance, the use of tactics or techniques and the ability to observe the rules and conventions under applied conditions.

Component 05: Evaluating and Analysis performance for improvement (15% weighting)

This component draws upon the knowledge, understanding and skills a learner has learnt throughout the course and enables them to analyse and evaluate a peer’s performance in one activity.

Studying OCR A Level Physical Education will equip learners with a broad range of knowledge, understanding and skills relating to scientific, socio-cultural and practical aspects of physical education. This requires students to:

Develop theoretical knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin physical activity and sport and use this knowledge to improve performance
Understand how physiological and psychological states affect performance
Understand the key socio-cultural factors that influence people’s involvement in physical activity and sport

Understand the role of technology in physical activity and sport
Refine their ability to perform effectively in physical activity and sport by developing skills and techniques and selecting and using tactics, strategies and/or compositional ideas
Develop their ability to analyse and evaluate to improve performance
Understand the contribution which physical activity makes to health and fitness
Improve as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with curious and enquiring minds.

Long Term Curriculum Overviews

Games

Long Term Plan - Games - Year 7 ong Term Plan - Games - Year 8

Long Term Plan - Games - Year 9

Long Term Plan - Games - Year 10

Long Term Plan - Games - Year 11

PE

Long Term Plan - Physical Education - Year 10

Long Term Plan - Physical Education - Year 11

'The Big Picture' Curriculum Map

'The Big Picture' Curriculum Map

This document will provide a visual overview of the department's curriculum from Key Stages 3 to 5. This is in a student-friendly format to support them in their understanding the of the department's curriculum.

Big Picture Curriculum Map - Physical Education

Assessment

Department Assessment Matrix

This document will provide an overview for assessment for Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.

Key Stage 3 Judgement Descriptors

This document will give you an overview of the criteria for Emerging, Developing, Secure and Mastery judgements at KS3 for this subject.

How can you help your child succeed in physical education?

How can you help your child succeed in Physical Education?

At KS3, we aim to promote resilient and responsible learners. In order to succeed, students should ensure that they check the timetable and bring the correct kit to every lesson. There are a range of extra-curricular activities to support physical health and wellbeing as well as represent the school competitively.

At KS4 and KS5 we suggest students use the underpinning course questions and revision resources to support them to prepare for their examinations. Work is shared via Google Classroom, as well as utilising the course specification tracker which is shared with students. Students should 'RAG' rate areas of strength or weakness and focus revision on these areas.

Students are also provided with a range of online resources to support their learning, including The Everlearner, GCSE Pod, Online textbooks and resources shared on Google Classroom.