Physical Education
Our curriculum intent
At Robertsbridge we aim to inspire every student to have a lifelong love of physical activity. Though our curriculum, students will learn the importance of a healthy lifestyle and its impact on physical health and mental wellbeing.
Students will be given the opportunity experience a vast range of sports and physical activities to ensure that all are able to access an activity they will carry on beyond their school life. Our lessons not only focus on the physical literacy that students need to play sport but also skills such as fairness, teamwork and leadership that allow them to be good citizens and successful in the wider world.
When students leave Robertsbridge, they will have a clear understanding of the importance of physical activity in maintaining health and how they can stay physically active throughout their lives.
What this looks like in practice
Key Stage 3:
Students experience a variety of competitive team and individual games working from small-sided and modified versions to the recognised forms. Students refine and add to the range of skills acquired during Key Stages 1 and 2, and are taught to understand why exercise and sport is important.
Techniques, skills and competition rules for specific activities are taught and students will also learn to plan, perform and review whilst experiencing a variety of roles.
Assessment of students’ attainment will be ‘ongoing’ and is based on observation of their ability to plan, perform and evaluate across the activity range as measured against the National Curriculum Levels.
Some examples of activities and areas that will be covered during Key Stage 3 are as follows:
- A range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games, for example, badminton, basketball, football, hockey, netball, rounders and rugby
- Techniques and performance in other competitive sports, for example, athletics and gymnastics
- Dances using advanced dance techniques within a range of dance styles and forms
- Outdoor and adventurous activities which present intellectual and physical challenges, for example, team building, building on trust, Problem-solving skills
- Analysis of performance compared to previous ones, demonstrating improvement to achieve their personal best
- Participation in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs.
Key Stage 4 Core Physical Education (all students):
At Key Stage 4, there is a big focus on participation so, whilst the activities that are offered are similar to that in Key Stage 3, there is a high percentage of game play. There are more opportunities for students to be actively involved in leading sections of lessons and taking responsibility for officiating, coaching and organising small groups.
GCSE Physical Education:
Students opting to take GCSE Physical Education will have the opportunity to work towards a number of options given by the awarding exam board. At Robertsbridge we follow the AQA course.
Students will cover a wide range of both theory and practical elements throughout the course. The focus of the theory content is based around the following 2 units and counts for 40% of the final grade and is assessed in an exam at the end of the course:
- Knowledge and Understanding for the Active Participant and areas covered for the active participant include: The range of physical activities and the different roles that the active participant can choose from; The demands of performance; Linking physical activity with diet, work and rest for personal health and a balanced healthy lifestyle.
- Knowledge and Understanding for the Involved Participant and areas covered for the involved participant include: Skills for Effective Performance; Testing, Training and Lifestyle Choices to Assess and Improve Performance; Risk Assessment and Safe Practice.
Students will be assessed in numerous practical activities and can also enter grades for sports that are not covered in school lessons, as long as they are in line with the AQA Specification.
Curriculum overview
Detailed information about the curriculum for each year group can be found in the document below.
PE Kit
We would like to take this opportunity to remind both students and parents of the kit requirements for PE lessons and the importance of ensuring that these are met for every PE lesson.
Mandatory PE Kit
- RCC PE Polo Shirt with relevant house colour
- BLACK shorts of traditional loose design as seen on our website, or BLACK tracksuit trousers. Cycling shorts, hotpants, and similar are not permitted
- Suitable footwear for physical activity – this should be trainers providing support and NOT plimsolls or skate-type footwear
Optional PE Kit
- RCC PE sweatshirt that can only be purchased in school, we would strongly advise this as the weather conditions can be extremely cold.
- We are happy for students to wear a BLACK under shirt with sleeves beneath their PE Polo Shirt as this will also help them to stay warm during lessons.
- Black Robertsbridge rain jackets can also be purchased from Superstitch.
Calling all Spare PE Kit and Trainers
We ask that all students bring their kit to each and every lesson, even if they are unable to participate practically due to injury. Even though all students are aware of this, there are times where they forget their kit, or grow out of their old ones.
In the PE department we have minimal spare PE kit for students to use when they forget theirs so they are still able to participate in the lesson. We have very few pairs of shoes, shorts and t-shirts. If you have any old PE kit lying around at home that either have been grown out of or are not used anymore then we would be most grateful if you could donate them to the PE department as part of our spare kit collection.