Aims
The Physical Education Department at the Sir James Henderson School aims to provide a broad and balanced curriculum stimulating new skills and understanding in a secure and fun environment. Our aim is to promote the development of planning, evaluation and performance skills based within a culture of equal opportunity, understanding and fair play. The curriculum is varied and progressive and enables our pupils to learn, experience and enjoy and the benefits of physical activity.The department provides a range of extra-curricular activities which supplement the curricular program and offers the opportunity for our pupils to pursue their sporting passions and develop their skills through a variety of sporting contexts including residential trips and a range of competitive fixtures.
Expectations
We expect our pupils to participate fully throughout the programme of activities and absence or lack of participation must be accompanied by a note from parents or a medical certificate. Pupils are required to wear school issue PE Kit and footwear appropriate to both the sport and the weather conditions.Key Stage 3 (age 11-13)
Within Key Stage 3 the pupils progress on the solid base of knowledge and skills built up in Key Stage 2. Pupils enhance their planning, evaluation and performance skills in the major games i.e. Football, Volleyball and Basketball and within Gymnastics, Swimming and Athletic Activities. Lessons taught both on and off site at purpose built facilities. Pupils are taught both in ability sets or mixed ability classes and may be in single or mixed gender groupings. All classes have one triple period per week.Key Stage 4 (age 14-16)
At this stage we try offer our pupils a greater range of sporting activities and a greater degree of choice. While Physical Education remains compulsory in the school we hope choices available at this stage will lead to an interest in sport which will continue throughout the pupils life.At the beginning of Yr 10 pupils have two basic routes:
- GCSE Physical Education
GCSE Physical Education is an examinable option within the school and is taught alongside but separate from the core PE program. The course is designed to build upon the skills, knowledge and understanding developed during Key Stage 3.
GCSE PE provides an eclectic and challenging curriculum for those students who have an interest in the sphere of sport and physical education and who wish to extend their understanding and appreciation of the subject. The course examines both academic and practical skills and is taught in two doubles per week.
- Core Physical Education
In Yr 10 the PE program enhances the skills and understanding developed in Key Stage 3 but also introduces other activities into the curriculum which the pupils can try perhaps for the first time.
In addition to Swimming and Athletics and our major games of Football, Volleyball and Basketball we provide a variety of options. Pupils can choose from a number of sports including Hand Ball, Rugby, Netball, Hockey and Dance. PE is taught in two doubles per week; options are run during one double lesson while students follow the core program in the other double.
In Yr 11 pupils continue to follow the core programme but are also entered into the Junior Sports Leaders Award Scheme which gives an opportunity to pupils to develop coaching and practical organizational skills. This scheme is highly regarded in the UK and pupils are certificated upon successful completion.