Welcome to the Physical Education Department at Waddesdon School

Head of Physical Education

Ben Wilson

Second in PE

Victoria Williams

School Sports Coordinator (SSCO)

Julie Briggs

Teachers

Janek Maciejewski  Rhiannon Owen  
Thomas Kempster  Alison Sapsed

Subject Overview
Teaching Aims and Objectives
Course Information
Marking and Assessment
Homework Policy
Examinations

Subject Overview

Facilities

The sporting facilities at the school are outstanding. The school has installed a 110m – 65m floodlit, All- Weather soccer/hockey pitch. It has the very latest artificial surface; tiger turf challenger, a 3rd Generation, 40mm pile height carpet with a rubber and sand infill.

We have an almost new Sports Hall, with four badminton courts and four cricket nets. We have a new fitness/weights room adjacent to the Sports Hall and a dance studio. Outside we have a newly surfaced tarmac area, which has 3 Netball courts and 4 tennis courts. We have good field space including two rugby/football pitches, three rounders pitches, a 400m athletics track, a throwing cage, two long/triple jump pits and grid areas for skills practices. We have no artificial cricket wicket but we have excellent relations with Waddesdon Cricket Club which enables us to use their beautiful cricket wicket and changing facilities for all our school games.

Throughout Years 7 – 11 students are provided with dedicated PE lesson, which are taught by specialist staff and pupils in years 12 and 13 also have opportunities to participate in sporting activities on Wednesday afternoons.

14–16-year-olds have access to a focused programme in PE and opportunities to follow an examination course or experience leadership. (Community Sports Leader Award)

Attention is given to the diverse needs and capabilities of groups of learners in PE. Students with SEN’s are integrated to all lessons.

Extra Curricular Clubs

There is an extremely good ‘Out of School Hours Learning’ OSHL programme and very good community links. We provide a very comprehensive and extensive extra curricular programme for the whole school. Every year group including the sixth form and staff is catered for. OSHL sessions run from 3.30 -5pm.

Extra curricular clubs are run in the following activities, rugby, football, badminton, cricket, athletics, basketball, table tennis, dodge ball, hockey, netball, rounders, tag rugby, girls football, weights room, aerobics and cross country. (see Extra Curricular club list)

We provide a significant number of inter form and school fixtures for students. We compete in national, regional and local competitions and run teams in every age group in the major sports. (see Fixture lists)

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Teaching Aims and Objectives

Department Philosophy

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Course Information

Primary to Secondary

When students join the PE Department at Waddesdon School, they transfer from a diverse range of small, local primary schools, making it difficult at first to assess the wide range of talent and ability. At the start of Year 7, students are required to undertake a base-line test to assess their speed, hand-eye co-ordination and their aerobic fitness. This testing process is repeated at the end of Year 7 and at the end of Key Stage 3, enabling staff to estimate the value added achievements of each student.

Key Stage 3

During Key Stage 3, students develop their expertise, skills and techniques, and learn how to apply them to different activities. They learn to evaluate effective performance and learn how to apply these principles to their work; they are encouraged to advise their fellow students as part of this formative assessment. They are encouraged to take initiative, to make decisions for themselves and to explain how performance can be improved. During Key Stage 3, students identify the types of activity they prefer and assume a variety of roles ranging from captain, team-leader to official.

Programme of Study

During Key Stage 3, students learn knowledge, skills and understanding through the following activities:

Key Stage 4

During Key Stage 4, students tackle complex and demanding activities, applying their knowledge of skills, techniques and effective performance. They decide whether to get involved in physical activity that is mainly focused on competing or performing, promoting health and well-being, or developing personal fitness. They also decide on roles that best suit them, including: performer, coach, choreographer, leader and official. The perception they have of their skill and physical competence gives them the confidence to get involved in exercise and activity outside school and in later life.

GCSE (AQA 3581)

The subject content is divided into four sections:

In the coursework component, students are required to show application of their knowledge and understanding by planning and evaluating a health- related exercise programme to improve performance. In addition, students are required to participate in four different activities: develop skills, apply tactics, understand and observe rules, analyse and take action to improve their own and others’ performance and adopt a chosen role.

AS/A Level – Sport and Physical Education (AQA)

AS Level

The AS award has a modular structure comprising three compulsory units:

Unit 1(PED1): Written unit (40% of AS grade).

Students study the physiological and psychological factors which improve performance. They learn how and why the body moves, and the effect exercise and rest have on a person’s health and physical well-being. They learn to assess how different people are suited to particular physical activities and sports. In addition, they study how people learn skills most effectively and efficiently, and what styles of learning best suit individuals.

Unit 2 (PED2): Written unit (30% of AS grade).

Students study how socio-cultural and historical influences impact on participation in physical activity. They study theories related to leisure and recreational activity and how the changing role of women and our view of children affect the development of syllabi in schools. The course includes research into the effects of social class, racism, gender, and disability and how these impact on the provision of opportunities for participation.

Unit 3 (PED3): (30% of AS grade)

The coursework unit requires students to:

A2 Level

Unit 4 (PED4): (15% of A Level mark)

Students study the physiological, biomechanical and psychological factors which optimise performance. In addition, the course requires them to study the impact of physical and mental preparation on performance and competition, specifically for the elite-level performer.

Unit 5 (PED5): (17 ½ % of A Level mark)

Students study the factors affecting the nature and development of elite performers. The following questions need to be answered:

Unit 6 (PED6): (17 ½ % of A Level mark)

Students analyse and critically evaluate the factors which optimise performance through written coursework.

In 2008, new A Level specifications will be introduced.

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Marking and Assessment

Core PE

In core PE, assessment is an on-going process and involves continuous assessment. It recognises achievement positively in areas of activity and highlights progress in order to set future targets.

Students in Years 7 – 11 receive a level-score for every module of sport they participate in (both PE and games lessons). At the end of each scheme of work, PE staff assign students a level using the level criteria set out in the level descriptors; these are based on the Level Descriptors Reference Table and Area Specific Descriptors Table. If a member of staff believes that a student is working between two levels, then the school’s divide of levels (a, b or c) will be used.

An assessment profile is compiled for each student during their school career. Students are encouraged to be aware of the evidence being recorded and assessment techniques employed. Students review their own progress through self-assessment.

The programme of study followed identifies 4 aspects (strands) of Physical Education in which students make progress:

These aspects are developed through a range of activities at the different key stages as set out in the Physical Education National Curriculum ‘Breadth of Study’ section.

At Key Stage 4, the level descriptors from the National Curriculum can be used to assess attainment and progress in PE. There are, in addition, other qualifications which assess attainment at this key stage; therefore, no one set of assessment criteria is used to evaluate student progress in core PE.

GCSE / AS / A Level PE

Where possible, students’ work is graded using GCSE, AS or A2 Level assessment criteria.

For written work, the quality of the material is assessed rather than the quantity. Work of a high standard should reflect the students’ technical knowledge and should display evidence of wider reading. Written work is used as evidence to estimate students’ progress. Practical performances and coursework are marked using the relevant Examination Board criteria for GCSE, AS and A2 Level.

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Homework Policy

In the PE Department, homework, as traditionally understood, is not set until students opt for a GCSE or AS / A Level course. For examination students, homework is regarded as an important element in student learning.

PE staff ensure that homework tasks are appropriate to the ability of the students. Tasks may include the following

The PE Departments expects examination students to attend as many extra-curricular clubs as appropriate, in order to enhance their skills and understanding of the activities studied

.

In Years 10-13, students following examination courses are expected to fulfil the coursework requirements laid down by the Examination Board. Strict adherence to coursework deadlines is expected and students are required to engage in research, to collect/record information, or to evaluate work in their own time.

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Examinations

Students complete examinations and coursework in the following areas:

GCSE – Physical Education Specification A (AQA 3581)

Written paper - 2 Hours (40% of total marks)

Factors Affecting Performance and Participation in Physical Activity.

Practical Coursework (60% of total marks)

The Effective Performance and Analysis of Physical Activities.

AS / A Level – Sport and Physical Education

AS (AQA 5581)

A2 (AQA 6581)

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