Physical Education

Nicholas Breakspear School has a long and proud tradition of sporting participation and success at District, County and National level. The Physical Education department is committed to providing a varied and balanced curriculum, backed by an extra-curricular programme in a broad range of sports across the year. An ethos of enjoyment, performance and achievement runs through both the core curriculum and extra-curricular activities, with team work and sportsmanship strongly promoted throughout. Every student should leave Nicholas Breakspear fully aware of the importance of exercise in contributing to a healthy, active lifestyle and understand how to achieve a desired level of general fitness. Nicholas Breakspear has facilities which include a full size 3G Astro Turf, a fully equipped fitness suite, indoor netball, basketball and badminton courts, extensive outdoor playing fields for Rugby, Football, Athletics and Rounders.

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Key Stage 3

Our stated intent is to provide students a platform to develop physical literacy skills such as coordination of discrete and gross motor skills, management of emotional responses including confidence as well as tactical understanding, while simultaneously preparing out students for the academic elements of our subject. Our curriculum is also focused on preparing our students for our extensive extra-curricular programme and the competitions which follow. Further it is designed to develop lifelong participation of physical activity. Finally, we aspire to endow our students with skills that will enable them to succeed in academic classes.

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Key Stage 4

Our curriculum is broken into 3 strands with a focus on lifelong participation, fitness and games. This is to prepare our students for the wider world endowing them with the skills to independently lead healthy lifestyles beyond the classroom.

GCSE and CTEC

A number of students choose to study GCSE Physical Education, where students are assessed on their practical skills but also study the theory behind a healthy, active lifestyle and examine the effects of exercise on the different body systems.

The assessment process involves written papers, coursework and practical moderation.

Further information can be found here

https://aqa.org.uk/subjects/physical-education/gcse/physical-education-8582/specification/specification-at-a-glance

Cambridge National (CTEC)

An alternative option for students to study sport at KS4 is Cambridge National Level 1/2 Sport Studies. This is an assignment based course with one exam to be taken when the students are fully prepared to do so.

The students will study four units across the course with a mix of practical and theoretical lessons. 

Further information can be found here:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/sport-studies-level-1-2-j803-j813/

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Key Stage 5

A Level

In years 12 and 13 students study following the AQA exam board.

The course covers the following areas within Physical Education

Y12

1. Applied anatomy and physiology
2. Skill acquisition
3. Sport and society
4. Biomechanical movement
5. Sport psychology
6. Sport and society and the role of technology in physical activity and sport

 

Y13

1. Applied anatomy and physiology
2. Skill acquisition
3. Sport and society
4. Exercise physiology
5. Biomechanical movement
6. Sport psychology
7. Sport and society and the role of technology in physical activity and sport

 

Students are required to complete written coursework analysing performance and gather evidence throughout the year of their performances in a selected sport.

The exam allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of the topic area through multiple choice, interpreting data and analysis and evaluation type questions.

Further information can be found here:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/physical-education/as-and-a-level

 

Cambridge Technical in Sport (CTEC)

Alternatively, students can follow Cambridge Technical in Sport Level 3 Extended Certificate/Diploma, which, depending on the route chosen, students will complete several different units based on a variety of areas within sport. This is an assignment based course, although some units will require students to sit a formal exam in either Y12 or Y13.

More information on this course can be found here:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-technicals/sport-and-physical-activity-2016-suite/#level-3