Physical Education

Balcarras PE Mission Statement

‘Our aim is to deliver a high-quality physical education curriculum that inspires all pupils to develop a lifelong interest in sport and physical exercise. By offering opportunities for wide-ranging competitive and recreational activities we aim to encourage all students to develop the confidence to make active lifestyle choices to support their own mental, social and physical well-being.’

For all information regarding fixtures and sports news please go to our live sports calendar by clicking here 

The department aims to provide an enjoyable and satisfying programme, which should afford opportunities for every pupil to develop physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively. The curriculum offers a comprehensive range of learning experiences to meet the needs of individual pupils and tries to encourage active involvement by all as performers, observers and officials.

KEY AIMS OF INTENT IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Pupils...

  1. Develop the competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities through a balanced curriculum.
  2. Are physically active for sustained periods of time in lessons and through a comprehensive extra-curricular programme.
  3. Engage in recreational activities and competitive sport through clubs, house matches, school teams and links with external agencies.
  4. Lead healthy active lives and learn key values of fairness and respect of others through sport.

Links with whole school aims other curriculum areas; literacy, numeracy, careers and citizenship will be a part of lessons as pupils progress through their PE subject pathway. 

Through a sympathetic and structured selection of learning experience appropriate to individual needs we aim to support all pupils in the development of physical competence and promote the skills necessary to effectively plan and evaluate movement related activities, safely and with confidence.

Competition, patience, tolerance a sense of fair play and good sporting behaviour are essential elements of any learning process. Through a variety of roles and with shared experiences, pupils will be encouraged to appreciate their own strengths and weaknesses and respond appropriately to the needs of individuals and groups.

PE Curriculum Journey Overview
 

PE Core Curriculum Map

 

Autumn 1 

Autumn 2 

Spring 1 

Spring 2 

Summer 1 

Summer 2 

Year 7 

Baseline Assessment 

Introduce and explore core skills through invasion games, gymnastics and HRF 

Introduce and explore core skills through invasion games, gymnastics and HRF 

Develop core skills through invasion games and dance 

Develop core skills through invasion games and dance 

Introduce, explore and develop core skills through striking/fielding games, net games and athletics 

Introduce, explore and develop core skills through striking/fielding games, net games and athletics 

Year 8 

Develop and embed core skills through invasion games and gymnastics. 

Develop an understanding of ‘Fitness for Life’ through HRF 

Develop and embed core skills through invasion games and gymnastics. 

Develop an understanding of ‘Fitness for Life’ through HRF 

Embed consistency of core skills and develop game understanding through invasion games and net games. 

Develop skills required in teamwork through OAA 

Embed consistency of core skills and develop game understanding through invasion games and net games. 

Develop skills required in teamwork through OAA 

Develop and embed consistency of core skills and game understanding through striking/fielding games, net games and athletics 

Develop and embed consistency of core skills and game understanding through striking/fielding games, net games and athletics 

Year 9 

Develop technique, game understanding and performance through invasion games and gymnastics. 

Enhance knowledge of Healthy Active Lifestyles through HRF 

Develop technique, game understanding and performance through invasion games and gymnastics. 

Enhance knowledge of Healthy Active Lifestyles through HRF 

Embed consistency of technique, game understanding and performance through invasion and net games. 

Embed skills required in teamwork and problem solving through OAA 

Embed consistency of technique, game understanding and performance through invasion and net games. 

Embed skills required in teamwork and problem solving through OAA 

Embed consistency of technique, game understanding and performance through striking/fielding games, net games and athletics 

Embed consistency of technique, game understanding and performance through striking/fielding games, net games and athletics 

Year 10 

Develop Tactics, Strategies and Technique through games. Introduce leadership roles. Consolidate an understanding of Healthy Active Lifestyle through Fitness  

Develop Tactics, Strategies and Technique through games. Introduce leadership roles. Consolidate an understanding of Healthy Active Lifestyle through Fitness 

Develop Tactics, Strategies and Technique through games. Develop leadership roles. Consolidate an understanding of Healthy Active Lifestyle through Fitness 

Develop Tactics, Strategies and Technique through games. Develop leadership roles. Consolidate an understanding of Healthy Active Lifestyle through Fitness 

Develop Tactics, Strategies and Technique through summer sports. Develop leadership roles. Consolidate an understanding of Healthy Active Lifestyle through Fitness 

Tactics, Strategies and Development of Technique through summer sports. Develop leadership roles. Consolidate an understanding of Healthy Active Lifestyle through Fitness 

Year 11 

Enhance understanding of Tactics, Strategies and Technique through games.  

Further develop leadership roles. Encourage Fitness for life and prepare for sport post 16 

Enhance understanding of Tactics, Strategies and Technique through games.  

Further develop leadership roles. Encourage Fitness for life and prepare for sport post 16 

Enhance understanding of Tactics, Strategies and Technique through games.  

Further develop leadership roles. Encourage Fitness for life and prepare for sport post 16 

Enhance understanding of Tactics, Strategies and Technique through games.  

Further develop leadership roles. Encourage Fitness for life and prepare for sport post 16 

Enhance understanding of Tactics, Strategies and Technique through summer options.  

Further develop leadership roles. Encourage Fitness for life and prepare for sport post 16 

 

PE GCSE Curriculum Map

PE A Level Curriculum Map

 

Autumn 1 

Autumn 2 

Spring 1 

Spring 2 

Summer 1 

Summer 2 

Year 12 

Paper 1 

Applied Anatomy and Physiology 

Exercise Physiology 

Biomechanics 

Paper 2 

Skill Acquisition 

Sports Psychology 

Paper 3 

Sport and Society 

 

Introduction to  

Practical Assessment 

Introduction to EAPI 

Paper 1 

Applied Anatomy and Physiology 

Exercise Physiology 

Biomechanics 

Paper 2 

Skill Acquisition 

Sports Psychology 

Paper 3 

Sport and Society 

 

Continued Practical and EAPI Assessment 

Paper 1 

Applied Anatomy and Physiology 

Exercise Physiology 

Biomechanics 

Paper 2 

Skill Acquisition 

Sports Psychology 

Paper 3 

Sport and Society 

 

Continued Practical and EAPI Assessment 

Paper 1 

Applied Anatomy and Physiology 

Exercise Physiology 

Biomechanics 

Paper 2 

Skill Acquisition 

Sports Psychology 

Paper 3 

Sport and Society 

 

Continued Practical and EAPI Assessment 

Paper 1 

Applied Anatomy and Physiology 

Exercise Physiology 

Biomechanics 

Paper 2 

Skill Acquisition 

Sports Psychology 

Paper 3 

Sport and Society 

 

Year 12 EAPI moderation 

Paper 1 

Applied Anatomy and Physiology 

Exercise Physiology 

Biomechanics 

Paper 2 

Skill Acquisition 

Sports Psychology 

Paper 3 

Sport and Society 

 

Continued Practical Assessment

Year 13 

Paper 1 

Applied Anatomy and Physiology 

Exercise Physiology 

Biomechanics 

Paper 2 

Skill Acquisition 

Sports Psychology 

Paper 3 

Sport and Society 

 

Continued Practical and EAPI Assessment 

Paper 1 

Applied Anatomy and Physiology 

Exercise Physiology 

Biomechanics 

Paper 2 

Skill Acquisition 

Sports Psychology 

Paper 3 

Sport and Society 

 

Continued Practical and EAPI Assessment 

Paper 1 

Applied Anatomy and Physiology 

Exercise Physiology 

Biomechanics 

Paper 2 

Skill Acquisition 

Sports Psychology 

Paper 3 

Sport and Society 

 

Final Practical and EAPI Assessment 

 

 

Paper 1, 2 and 3 

Exam Preparation 

 

Final Practical Moderation 

 

External EAPI Moderation 

Exams

 

It is hoped that the programmes offered across the Key Stages, together with an awareness of leisure opportunities within the community, will develop the skills and abilities required for the pupils to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.


Key Stage 3

Across this Key Stage pupils are introduced to key skills and concepts through modified games and play. Emphasis through years 7, 8 and 9 is the development of basic cores skills, how to apply them, and a basic understanding of rules, tactics and strategies. Units are split into half term blocks with rotations in activities every 4 or 5 weeks. There are 5 lessons a fortnight 4 for core lessons and 1 additional fitness lesson.  Students are taught in both single sex and mixed groups dependant on the activity.

Activities studied at Key Stage 3 are:

Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Dance, Football, Gymnastics, Handball, Health Related Fitness, Hockey, Netball, Rounders, Rugby, Table Tennis and Tennis.

GCSE

Across this Key Stage the focus in lessons is lifelong learning and the ability of students to make informed choices about the activities they would like to participate in post education. Students take greater responsibility for their learning as well as developing roles as player, coach, organiser and official across all of the activities studied. Activities are studied over 5 or 6 week blocks and are a mixture of traditional competitive sports and fitness based activities.

Activities studied at Key Stage 4 are:

Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, CV Exercise, Fitness, Football, Hockey, Netball, Power, Walking, Rounders, Rugby, Softball, Table Tennis, Tennis and Yoga.

We are very lucky to have our own PE classroom with computers attached to the sportshall and fitness suite which aids the delivery of excellent teaching and learning across a full range of examination courses.  In years 10 and 11 we successfully run the GCSE course with over 60 students  in each year group. Each course is a mixture of practical coursework and written examinations. Last year we achieved 94% A*-C success at GCSE.

A Level

We also run AS and GCE Physical Education courses in sixth form. These courses are designed for those wish to go on to university to study sport. Again these courses are a mixture of practical and theory and are very popular running large groups in both year groups. Average points score per pupil is always better than predicted and averages 100 points per student.

Feel free to come to any of the open evenings to discuss course requirements and the delivery of exam work at the school open evenings.

Extracurricular

There is an extensive extracurricular and enrichment programme available at the school. Clubs and teams run at lunch and after schools. We have regular fixtures and compete at a local, district, county and national level in a variety of sports. A full list of activities is available on the link below as well as a link to current pupil and team successes.

In addition to out of school fixtures we also run inter-house matches every term which are hugely enjoyed by the students and extremely competitive. 

Additional enrichment activities also occur with our links to external clubs who offer additional activities for our students as well as the opportunity for students to work with local feeder schools, gain national coaching qualifications and improve they own skills through an integrated Gifted and Talented programme.  We also run a sixth form games programme on a Wednesday afternoon and regular curriculum days in which pupils experience a variety of linked subject  activities. Finally, we organise a school camp at the end of Year 9, water sports days and annual sporting trips to local and national sporting events. 

We hope that this page gives you a taste of our department and if you wish to contact us please do so on the school e-mail address.