Physical Education

“In my judgment, physical fitness is basic to all forms of excellence and to a strong, confident nation.”

— Robert Kennedy

Curriculum intent

The PE curriculum will be broad and balanced allowing students to develop the knowledge and skills to be physically active and healthy in later life. Sporting competences will be taught which will help develop confidence, enjoyment and well-being.

Our students will develop the fitness attributes to be effective performers and learn how to combine these with sport specific techniques, strategies and tactics in the various strands of sports.

Our curriculum will promote a love of physical activity and the confidence to participate. Students will learn about worldwide sports, training practices and the global issues associated with these. They will be taught about important issues such as performance enhancement, gender stereotypes and use of the media to promote sport. Students will be given an opportunity to work with their peers and will be encouraged to demonstrate the trust qualities required when working with their peers. Students will develop a knowledge and understanding of how to work with students of a variety of different skill levels and strengths with kindness, patience and positivity. They will be guided to use leadership qualities when working as part of a team and respond to the strengths and weaknesses of those they are working with, with the intention of students taking these skills into working life. Sportspersonship will be visible in all lessons with students abiding by rules, being humble in victory and gracious in defeat. 

What does progress through Key Stage 3 look like for a student in PE?

Our schemes of work are tailored to meet the needs of all the students regardless of their individual levels of physical and intellectual ability. Most sports are revisited each year where the students are provided with more physical and intellectual challenges. The common important physical characteristics that are interwoven in many of the sports we deliver are enhanced throughout the Key Stage. Differentiated approaches which include variations of drills, conditioned games, levels of technical support ensure that students can progress at a rate that is indicative of their ability. Students throughout the Key Stage develop a deeper understanding of the importance of fitness and how this links to their own performances. Students develop an increased awareness of the rules and regulations of the physical activities they are taught. Teachers use their subject knowledge to create learning environments that provide an ever-increasing level of challenge for all throughout the Key Stage.  

What do students learn in Year 7?

Students are introduced to a variety of different kinds of sports and physical activity throughout the year.  We provide opportunities for students to experience sports from the following areas; Health and Fitness Activities, Team Games (Invasion and outwitting opponents), Outdoor and Adventure Activity, Strike and Field Activity, Individual Game – (Outwitting opponents), Performance Activity (Creative movement) and Individual Competitive Activity. Students are taught in 8 lesson blocks so that they have the time to develop their competency within the specific activity. We teach 11 different activities throughout the year providing our students with a breadth of experiences. The depth and breadth of the curriculum will enhance our students’ physical and intellectual abilities. Our curriculum is designed to create a learning environment full of enjoyment so as to enhance our students’ well-being. 

What do students learn in Year 8?

Students continue to work at developing their physical and intellectual ability in the PE National Curriculum areas; Health and Fitness Activities, Team Games (Invasion and outwitting opponents), Outdoor and Adventure Activity, Strike and Field Activity, Individual Game – (Outwitting opponents), Performance Activity (Creative movement) and Individual Competitive Activity. The students are introduced to more advanced skills, techniques and tactics whilst consolidating their experiences from Year 7. Our programme will build confidence and create enjoyable experiences for our students so that they continue to develop physically, emotionally and socially. Blocks of 8 lessons will continue to be the norm, however in certain areas of sport we will teach in 6 week blocks so that our students can experience slightly more breadth. We introduce volleyball as a ‘new sport’ which we believe is more suited to the students when they are in Year 8, having had experience in other aspects of sport requiring hand eye coordination.  

What do students learn in Year 9?

Students continue to work at developing their physical and intellectual ability in the PE National Curriculum areas; Health and Fitness Activities, Team Games (Invasion and outwitting opponents), Outdoor and Adventure Activity, Strike and Field Activity, Individual Game – (Outwitting opponents), Performance Activity (Creative movement) and Individual Competitive Activity. Students consolidate their experiences from Year 7 and 8 and build on these with even more advanced skills, techniques and tactics. More emphasis is placed upon the strategies and tactics of playing sport, developing the students’ intellectual ability, making them more accomplished performers. Students are tasked with developing more coaching and officiating qualities which further develops their pedagogy. The importance of the components of fitness are at the centre of teaching and made explicit to the students. Opportunities to develop these qualities are provided in the teaching framework. An emphasis is also placed on the next steps of PE at Millthorpe with a rich dialogue of sport terminology so that students are starting to become more knowledgeable for potentially choosing GCSE PE and or developing their understanding of the many aspects of sport and physical activity. 

What do students learn in Year 10?

Students continue to develop physically and emotionally in a number of key National Curriculum areas: Health and Fitness Activities, Team Games (Invasion and outwitting opponents), Strike and Field Activity, Individual Game – (Outwitting opponents) and Individual Competitive Activity. Students are taught in 6 lesson blocks in a number of the sports and physical activity that they have experienced at Key Stage 3. Breadth and depth is reduced from Key Stage 3 with 1 hour of physical activity per week enabling a programme of 6 sporting areas. Students continue to consolidate their abilities in a number of sports and experience an ever-increasing amount of challenge and competition. The extracurricular programme for Key Stage 4 students provides other opportunities, different to their curriculum, so that they can pursue alternative activities they may have enjoyed through Key Stage 3 or new activities that have not been covered in their curriculum so far. Trampolining and bouldering clubs are part of this programme. 

Students can choose to study GCSE PE (EdExcel Specification) where they experience 5 hours per fortnight of Physical Education split between the theory of sport and practical performance. Students learn content under the headings: Health, Fitness and Wellbeing and Fitness and Body Systems for the theory aspect of the qualification. For the practical element they choose 3 sports to be assessed in, and finally they complete a piece of coursework on developing their personal fitness.    

What do students learn in Year 11?

Students continue to develop physically and emotionally in a number of key National Curriculum areas: Health and Fitness Activities, Team Games (Invasion and outwitting opponents), Strike and Field Activity, Individual Game – (Outwitting opponents) and Individual Competitive Activity. Students are taught in 6 lesson blocks in a number of the sports and physical activity that they have experienced at Key Stage 3. Breadth and depth is reduced from Key Stage 3 with 1 hour of physical activity per week enabling a programme of 5 sporting areas. Students continue to consolidate their abilities in a number of sports and experience an ever-increasing amount of challenge and competition. The extracurricular programme for Key Stage 4 students provides other opportunities, different to their curriculum, so that they can pursue alternative activities they may have enjoyed through Key Stage 3 or new activities that have not been covered in their curriculum so far. Trampolining and bouldering clubs are part of this programme.  Those students that chose to study GCSE PE continue to experience 5 hours per fortnight of Physical Education split between the theory of sport and practical performance. Students continue to learn content under the headings: Health, Fitness and Wellbeing and Fitness and Body Systems for the theory aspect of the qualification. For the practical element they continue to develop their ability in 3 sports which they will be assessed in, and finally they complete a piece of coursework on developing their personal fitness.    

PE activities 2024-25

To find out which activities students will study in their PE lessons during the 2024-25 year, please click here.

Knowledge Organisers

Knowledge organisers for students in Key Stage 4 at Millthorpe School can be found here. All the key facts and essential knowledge you’ll need, right at your fingertips!