Physical Education
The School's physical education programme covers gymnastics, netball, court hockey, aerobics, dance, rounders, basketball, badminton, athletics and tennis. In addition to the use of the school gymnasium, the senior school uses the facilities at the Michael Sobell Centre where keep fit, squash, rock climbing, weights, volleyball and swimming are also available. The Sixth Form have their own programme, which offers ice skating and swimming in addition to the activities mentioned above. Pupils in all years are able to participate in one of the successful sports teams which train and take part in competitions after school hours. In the summer, students are coached in athletics by members of the London Coaching Foundation.
Curricular Aims
The Physical Education curriculum is designed to ensure that all students' receive a broad and balanced programme which is differentiated to meet their needs and coincides with their interests. The syllabus contributes to the development of problem-solving skills; the development of inter-personal skills and the forging of links between the school, the community and across cultures.
Physical Education educates young people in, and through, the use and knowledge of the body and its movement. It develops physical competence and enables students to engage in worthwhile physical activities. Additionally, physical development is promoted and the value and benefits of participation in physical activity recognised; while at school and throughout life.
Physical Education develops artistic and aesthetic understanding within the curriculum and helps to establish self esteem. Through the development of physical competence students are able to cope with all aspects of competitive and co-operative physical activity.
Assessment
The attainment target for physical education is the sum total of key stage statements. In meeting the attainment target, pupils should be able to demonstrate knowledge, skills and understanding in all areas of activity including, athletics events, dance, games, gymnastics activities and outdoor adventurous pursuits.
Keystage 3 - Physical Education
At key stage three pupils will extend on knowledge and understandings learnt at key stage two. In particular, individuals will learn how to select and apply skills, tactics and techniques to specific chosen physical activities. In setting targets for themselves pupils will be able to respond to a variety of challenging situations and become skilful and intelligent performers.
The physical education program offers six week blocks of units of work that are assessed at the end of each unit. Physical pursuits that are covered include gymnastics, athletics events, dance and games (basketball, netball, football, rounders etc).
In addition, students may attend after-school clubs to further advance their skills and understanding.
Keystage 4 - Compulsory Physical Education
Physical Education is a compulsory element of the national curriculum and offered to year 10/11 students for an hour and forty minute block each week.
It is a necessary component to school life and a beneficial tool in assisting with socialisation.
Benefits include -
- the development of leadership skills
- improvements in self confidence
- increases in physical fitness
- the development of hand-eye coordination and physical skills of spacial awareness and movement types.
Students are given the opportunity to experience an extensive range of physical activities through school facilities and Sobell Leisure Centre. Activities include : Ice Skating, Rock Climbing, Basketball, Dance, Badminton, Netball and Trampolining.
As you are no doubt aware, physical activity and sport is a consuming aspect of our life and one in which numerous hours are spent playing or watching. Here at Our Lady's Convent we endeavour to provide avenues for success. As one would say 'healthy body - healthy mind'.
GCSE (Keystage 4)
The GCSE course comprises three theoretical units of work, which include:
- factors affecting participation and performance
- the relationship between health, fitness and practical activity
- risk assessment in physical activity
The course also includes an assessment of 4 practical activities. Coursework includes performance grades in four sports [2 strands available - games or physical education(50%)] and personal evaluation of one activity (10%). All together this is worth 60% of your total mark.
The theory work is assessed at the end of the 2-year course with a paper worth 40 % of your total mark.
The exam is broken up into two sections:
Section A
Short answer questions/structured questions that cover the three theoretical areas of study (20 marks)
Section B
Three questions each covering ONE of the three units studied (60marks)
Games Strand
The candidate chooses four game activities under applied conditions
One activity from an invasion game
One activity form a net/wall game
One activity from a striking/fielding game
The last activity can be from any of the above categories
The candidate must analyse their performance in one of the chosen activities
Physical Education Strand
The candidate must do two compulsory activities and choose two.
Compulsory-Dance
Compulsory-Trampoline
Two activities from a choice of netball, basketball, volleyball, badminton and rounders.
The candidate must analyse their performance in one of the chosen activities
A-Level (Keystage 5)
Course Outline
'Healthy body - healthy mind'
Advanced Subsidiary (AS) GCE and Advanced (A2 Level) GCE Physical Education (OCR Syllabus)
The best foundation for success in AS Physical Education is a C-A grade mark in GCSE Physical Education. Students interested in undertaking the A-Level course will need to have a solid understanding of the body systems and factors affecting physical education and sport. In addition, students must possess a satisfactory level of physical skill. Essentially, candidates must have an interest in physical education and sport.
Those pupils who competently complete the AS course are then eligible to undertake the A2 course which continues to consolidate and build upon work learnt in the AS Physical Education program.
Advanced Subsidiary (AS):
Three units of study:- Unit 1: Application of Anatomical and Physiological Knowledge to Improve Performance (40% of AS and 20% of Advanced)
Students build upon GCSE topics, which include body systems and motor skill learning while engaging and linking theoretical work to physical activities.
Unit 2: Contemporary Studies in Physical Education (30% of AS and 15% of Advanced)
Students develop an understanding of the key concepts in the establishment of Physical Education and Sport in schools and across the United Kingdom and various other nations.
Unit 3: Performance and its Improvement through Critical Analysis (30% of AS and 15% of Advanced) Students engage in a range of physical activity and undertake coursework that identifies their physical strengths and weaknesses.
Advanced A Level GCE (A2) (50% of Advanced Subsidiary)
Candidates study Exercise and Sport Physiology (20% of the total mark): the response of the body to performance and training and two options from the list below (15% of the total mark):-
- Historical Studies in Physical Education (Option A1);
- Comparative Studies in Physical Education (Option A2);
- Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement (Option B1);
- Psychology of Sport Performance (Option B2).
At least one option must be either Historical Studies in Physical Education or Comparative Studies in Physical Education. In addition, students must complete performance and its improvement through critical analysis (15% of the total mark). Synoptic questioning is incorporated into this unit of work.
Extra Curricular Activities
A range of clubs is on offer for pupils to participate in throughout the school year, which continue to build upon skills and understandings learnt within curriculum time. Qualified instructors teach skills, tactics and techniques specific to their physical pursuit and work towards a level of achievement where individuals can successfully compete against other schools in the borough. An outline of the lunch time club on offer is listed here as well as the afterschool clubs.
Webpages for revision
Key Stage Four
- GCSE Revision - www.bbc.co.uk/revision
- GCSE Physical Education online - www.direct-ed.com
- GCSE Practical Assistance - www.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy
Key Stage Five
- Australian Sports Commission - www.ausport.gov.au/tophysio.html
- Sport-quest - www.sportquest.com/coaching.shtml
- Sports Science Organization - www.sportsci.org
- Revision Historical/Comparative Studies - www.Pe4u.com
Facilities
Dance Studio
Our Lady's Convent has an indoor sprung wooden floor-board that is used for dance, aerobics, gymnastics, yoga, first aid, fitness testing, skipping and various other activities. When school concerts and/or productions are held the dance studio is used for rehearsals and practice.
Gymnasium
The school gymnasium is equipped with apparatus for gymnastics use and the surface is additionally used to play netball, basketball, skipping, badminton, indoor football, indoor hockey, volleyball, fitness testing and various other activities.
Outside Courts
There are three outside netball courts, which are regularly used for netball, basketball, football, tennis, fitness testing, rounders, hockey and various after-school clubs. |
