PE & Sport

In the Nursery and Reception classes physical education takes a very important role as students begin to gain control of physical movement. Students are assessed for physical development against the Early Learning Goal outcomes. Opportunities to develop movement are given by teachers who provide equipment for students to use to enhance this. Bikes and other sports equipment are used to encourage students to self-initiate their learning.

The vision for PE delivery at Merchants Academy Primary is for children to understand the important of of leading a healthy lifestyle and the transformative power of sport. Knowledge, skills and experiences developed through sport can equip children to be a positive force for change in their community and develop aspirations beyond their immediate surroundings.  Team skills, athletic ability and sportsmanship recognize and promote equity, diversity and inclusion. Children develop a sense sense of community in team sports and are able to acquire the skills involved in being a team player and supporting one another. 

Children will develop an understanding of and know the steps to take in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. In addition, the children will be provided with more outdoor experiences to supplement the limited experiences they may have out of school. Merchants Academy Primary aims to widen children’s horizons and experiences by ensuring additional enrichment and cultural capital opportunities are carefully planned. 

The PE curriculum at Merchants Academy Primary is designed to develop procedural, physical motor competence skills in a variety of sporting contexts. Declarative knowledge of rules, strategies and tactics is carefully sequenced to ensure knowledge builds over time. We know that detailed knowledge of healthy participation is fundamental to children’s enjoyment and our aim is for pupils to continue to participate and excel in sport into their secondary education and beyond.  

Progression of both procedural and declarative knowledge is mapped carefully throughout the curriculum to ensure pupils not only know and remember more but build upon their physical sporting skills. 

Extra resources (e.g. a sports coach to referee and coach and a range of physical resources such as skipping ropes, swingball sets, ankle skippers, bean bags and basketball hoops) are employed at break and lunch time to ensure children have a wide range of activities to encourage their gross motor skills and fitness. Special days or weeks such as Scootfit, Learn to ride and Bikeability aim to celebrate sport and ensure children have the skills to cycle safely on the road. A range of clubs allow children to futher enhance their skills, widen the repertoire of sports on offer in the school day and participation in local sports partnerships allow us to take part competetively in local tounaments. Children also have the wonderful opportunity to explore our deicated forest school area within dedicated outdoor learning sessions in terms 1,2,4, 5 and 6.

Years 7, 8 and 9

Our aim in PE is to inspire and educate all students so that they understand the importance of maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.  Our goal is to provide students with a broad and varied curriculum that will help them find the sports or activities that they can pursue into adulthood.  Fun, teamwork, leadership and participation are at the heart of our mission to ensure all students achieve more than they ever thought possible.

At the present time, Physical Education is taught by 6 members of staff who share a passion for helping all students achieve their very best.  Staff have a breadth of knowledge and experience that cover a wide variety of complimentary sports and activities.  We are very lucky to have some of the best sports facilities in Bristol.  These include two sports halls, a multi-use games area used for tennis and netball, an all-weather Astroturf pitch, a state-of-the-art dance studio, use of two fitness gyms, a dedicated sports classroom and four superb grass pitches.

In order to achieve our goals the Physical Education and Sport curriculum aims to;

• Stimulate and maintain student interest and enjoyment in PE and Sport and to promote health and fitness for current and future lifestyles.
• Enable students to be familiar with a body of knowledge, principles and vocabulary to relate to PE.
• To enable students to see PE as a major feature in our lives, related to employment, leisure and culture.
• To enable students to see PE as part of a wider body of knowledge and skills, eg interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• To enable students to understand and use safe practice and to appreciate its importance in PE.
• To enable students to understand the short and long term effects of exercise on the body.
• To enable students to understand the role of exercise in a fit and healthy lifestyle.
• Enable students to develop a range of desirable personal qualities such as safety, awareness, politeness, perseverance, concern for others, initiative and independence. The establishment of self-esteem through the development of physical confidence is a major aim for the Physical Education department.
• Enable students to work independently and as part of a group or team in varied activities so as PE contributes to the development of core skills such as communication by speech.
• Employ teaching methods and resources that will allow all students to have equal access to PE and to experience success and enjoyment in their PE work.
• Develop an awareness in students of the implications of sport and physical activity (past and present) for the individual and local, national and international communities.
• Allow students to develop informed opinions and be able to support them in reasonable argument.

All students have over 2 hours of compulsory core Physical Education each week in Years 7-9 and an average of  1 ½ hours a week in Years 10 & 11.  The PE curriculum is supplemented by an extensive and substantial co-curricular programme and students are able to study PE at GCSE and A level.

In Years 7-9 the main emphasis is on skill development and fun through a broad and balanced curriculum that offers all students the opportunity to engage in traditional and non-traditional games and physical activity.

At Merchants’ Academy we aim to ensure all students:

• Build on and embed the physical development and skills learned in KS1 and KS2
• Become more competent, confident and expert in their techniques and apply them across different sports and physical activities
• are encouraged to work in a team, building on trust and developing skills… (either individually) or as a group
• Overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games
• Take part in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs
• Use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition (through team and individual games)

Sports and activities covered include; football, rugby, basketball, netball, handball, gymnastics, dance, fitness, cricket, softball, rounders, dodgeball, boccia, athletics, tennis, hockey, ultimate Frisbee and badminton.

In Years 10 & 11, the curriculum is planned to provide students with the opportunity to grow and develop their interests in their chosen sporting pathways so that students are able to continue to participate in sport when they leave the Academy.  This provides the opportunity for students to;

• Tackle more complex and demanding physical activities
• Use and develop a variety of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in team and individual games
• Tackle complex and demanding physical activities
• Evaluate their performances compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement across a range of physical activities to achieve their personal best
• Get involved in a range of activities that develops personal fitness and promotes an fitness, promoting an active, healthy lifestyle
• Continue to take part regularly in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs
• Get involved in a range of activities that develops personal fitness and promotes an active, healthy lifestyle

Students are able to choose sports and activities from the following pathways; games (eg football, rugby, netball…), aesthetics (eg dance, trampolining…), health and fitness (eg circuits, gym…), recreational activities (eg ultimate Frisbee, dodgeball…)

Years 10 & 11

Years 12 & 13

Course Title: Physical Education
Exam Board: Edexcel
Qualification: A level

About the course

Students who chooses to study A level PE will be given opportunities to:

• develop theoretical knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin physical activity and sport and use this knowledge to improve performance
• understand how physiological and psychological states affect performance
• understand the key socio-cultural factors that influence people’s involvement in physical activity and sport
• understand the role of technology in physical activity and sport
• refine their ability to perform effectively in physical activity and sport by developing skills and techniques and selecting and using tactics, strategies and/or compositional ideas
• develop their ability to analyse and evaluate to improve performance
• understand the contribution which physical activity makes to health and fitness
• improve as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with curious and enquiring minds.
   

Overview of content

Component 1: Scientific Principles of Physical Education

Content overview

• Topic 1: Applied anatomy and physiology
• Topic 2: Exercise physiology and applied movement analysis

Biomechanics is embedded within the content of Topics 1 and 2.

Assessment overview
Written examination: 2 hours and 30 minutes
40% of the qualification (140 marks)

The assessment comprises two sections:

Section A – Applied anatomy and physiology and
Section B – Exercise physiology and applied movement analysis.

The assessment consists of short answer, long answer and extended answer questions. One extended-answer question, marked with an asterisk, requires students to use their knowledge and understanding from across the course of study in their answer.

Component 2: Psychological and Social Principles of Physical Education

Content overview

• Topic 3: Skill acquisition
• Topic 4: Sport psychology
• Topic 5: Sport and society

Assessment overview
Written examination: 2 hours
30% of the qualification (100 marks)

The assessment comprises two sections:

Section A – Skill acquisition and sport psychology

Section B – Sport and society.

The assessment consists of short answer, long answer and extended answer questions.

Component 3: Practical Performance

Content overview

• Skills performed in one physical activity as a player/performer

OR

• Skills performed in one physical activity as a coach

Assessment overview
Non-examined assessment: internally assessed, externally moderated
15% of the qualification (40 marks)

• It is recommended that the minimum duration for the student activity is approximately 54 hours, combining preparation and the assessed performance.
• The assessment will be internally marked by the centre and externally moderated
• The assessment consists of students completing one physical activity from a selection that can be found following the links below
• Students can be assessed in either the role of player/performer or coach.

Component 4: Performance Analysis and Performance Development Programme

Content overview

• In the role of player/performer or coach analyse two components of a physical activity (one physiological component and either a tactical or technical component).
• In the role of player/performer or coach analyse, implement and evaluate a Performance Development Programme.

Assessment overview
Non-examined assessment: internally assessed, externally moderated
15% of the qualification (40 marks)

• Carrying out and producing the Performance Analysis and PDP may take place over multiple sessions up to a combined duration of 54 hours.
• The assessment will be internally marked by the centre and externally moderated
• The assessment consists of students producing a Performance Analysis and then developing a Performance Development Programme.
• Students can be assessed in either the role of player/performer or coach.

For further information:
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/physical-education-2016.html