Sport
The Physical Education Curriculum
Our curriculum is shaped in two ways: firstly it is designed (at Key Stage 3 – years 7 / 8 and 9) to complement the sports that we play at competition level and secondly, it is shaped by the students themselves, using an annual “Sports survey” to determine what they enjoy most.
Key Stage 3
The KS3 curriculum, particularly in year 7, introduces the “flagship” sports of the Academy: Rugby, Hockey and Cricket for the boys and Hockey, Netball and Rounders for the girls. We also have a whole term devoted to the development of Athletics.
The KS3 programmes are designed to develop the skills, understanding and knowledge of our learners and are assessed, in line with the National Curriculum processes, to present all students with the chance of being successful in physical education. This is made possible by judging students’ progress, in conjunction with sporting talent, against processes: developing skills in physical activity, making and applying decisions, developing physical and mental capacity, evaluating and improving and making informed choices about healthy, active lifestyles. The beauty of this system is that it is not always the best performers that end up with the highest grades!
Key Stage 4
KS4 physical education (Years 10 and 11) has a completely different focus and feel as it is designed to stimulate an interest in activity with the hope that the students will find something that they enjoy enough to adopt throughout their lifetime. The curriculum has a distinct “health-related” focus and students can choose from a range of curriculum pathways: games route, fitness route, aesthetic or alternative activities and a combined fitness and games route. The activities 
that are offered on the programmes are determined by the students’ response to the sports survey each year, and are aimed at keeping KS4 students involved, enthusiastic and empowered.
The PE curriculum is aimed at nurturing our sportsmen and women, whilst at the same time attracting all of our students to the subject and the fun that it represents. The specific programmes are educationally focussed and, along with the assessment , are designed to stimulate creativity, understanding and knowledge.
Examination Physical Education
PE offers two level 2 qualifications; the GCSE in Physical Education and a Sports Studies BTEC . Both offer a mix of practical and theory and are offered to appropriate students as part of their option choices in year 8.
‘A’ Level Physical Education (a level 3 course in the sixth form) has a 60% theory/40% practical split and is aimed at those students that perhaps want to access sports-related courses at University or that have a real interest in the subject area.