Curriculum

Physical education

Curriculum intent, implementation, and impact

About the subject

“Everyone’s dreams can come true, if you just stick to it and work hard.” Serena Williams

Our Physical Education department will continue to create a respectful, positive environment where every student is engaged and enjoys learning. Students will be ambitious and strive to succeed in every opportunity whilst inspiring others and showing pride in belonging to our HLC community. Our students will continue to grow in their personal development through embracing our Fit to Lead, Fit for Life and Fit to Perform initiatives to further enhance their skills, confidence, and leadership abilities.

With a team of experienced and passionate staff, the PE department at HLC is committed to nurturing each student’s unique interests and talents. The department encourages exploration, emphasising enjoyment and resilience, and allowing students to learn from their mistakes as part of their development. This approach helps to foster confident learners who acquire a broad range of transferable life skills and discover a passion for one or more of the activities offered within the PE curriculum.

Beyond regular lessons, the PE department provides additional opportunities for students to get involved in sports. Clubs are available daily, offering access to a wide variety of sports. Alongside, the department organises annual sports tours and trips, to allow students to immerse themselves in a different culture, providing an exciting and enriching experience outside the classroom.

The core values for our Physical Education (PE) department are, teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship—each of which is crucial not only for success in sports but also for fostering a healthy, respectful school community.

Students in PE follow a curriculum consisting of 6 activity areas across each academic year. Within each activity area students will cover 3 strands: ‘Fit to Perform’, ‘Fit to Lead’ and ‘Fit for Life’. Students will be offered a diverse range of enrichment opportunities to further embed skills developed, character and create positive attitudes and relationships. Fit to Perform, Fit to Lead, and Fit for Life ensures that students will not only develop the physical skills necessary for success in sports but also gain valuable life skills such as leadership, resilience, teamwork, and empathy. The emphasis on both competitive and non-competitive opportunities, coupled with the focus on social, emotional, and physical health, will create well-rounded individuals who are prepared to navigate every opportunity.

 

Students are taught to:

  • use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in competition, through interhouse competition and on a lesson by lesson basis. Sports include (football, rugby, badminton, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, netball, rounders, cricket and softball).
  • develop their technique and improve their performance in competitive sports across a range of disciplines. For example, athletics, gymnastics and swimming.
  • take part in outdoor and adventurous activities which present intellectual and physical challenges, through Duke of Edinburgh, enrichment activities to Arthog outreach and onsite activities for example orienteering, team building activities.
  • analyse their performances, and the performance of others, presenting the opportunities to reflect on strengths and areas for improvement.
  • take part in competitive sports and activities outside school through extracurricular opportunities both within the local community and in the wider area. Students will have the opportunity to represent the school and Learning Community Trust in a range of activity areas against a range of local schools. Students will benefit from the many club links the school has. This gives them an opportunity to further develop in a sport of their choice.
  • develop physical health and fitness and the knowledge of the processes required to become a healthy person.
  • experience the social side of physical activity, this will have a positive impact on mental health and give students the feeling of belonging to a greater purpose, developing relationships and empathy for others.

 

In Key Stage 4 (KS4), every student will engage in at least six different activity areas over the course of the year. During Physical Education (PE) lessons, students will build upon the skills they acquired in Key Stage 3 (KS3), refining and mastering them. In Cambridge National Sport Studies, students will deepen their understanding by developing leadership skills in sports performance, examining the impact of media on sport—both positive and negative—and exploring a wide range of contemporary issues within the sporting world.

 

About the KS3 Curriculum intent, implementation, and impact

The Physical Education (PE) programme at Hadley Learning Community offers students a well-rounded opportunity to build on the foundational skills they have developed at Key Stage 2, progressing towards more advanced and competitive participation. The aim is to help students become skilled and intelligent performers by developing their physical capabilities, learning to apply skills and tactics, and fostering a positive attitude towards physical activity. 

Students in PE follow a curriculum consisting of 6 activity areas across each academic year. Within each activity area students will cover 3 strands: ‘Fit to Perform’, ‘Fit to Lead’ and ‘Fit for Life’. Students will be offered a diverse range of enrichment opportunities to further embed skills developed, character and create positive attitudes and relationships. Fit to Perform, Fit to Lead, and Fit for Life ensures that students will not only develop the physical skills necessary for success in sports but also gain valuable life skills such as leadership, resilience, teamwork, and empathy. The emphasis on both competitive and non-competitive opportunities, coupled with the focus on social, emotional, and physical health, will create well-rounded individuals who are prepared to navigate every opportunity.

KS3 Physical Education Overview

Students will participate in a variety of sport-specific activities, building on the physical skills and knowledge they developed during Key Stage 2 (KS2). Through engaging in team games and collaborative challenges, they will enhance their problem-solving abilities and improve their capacity to analyse both their own and their peers’ performances. Self-reflection and peer feedback will play a key role in this process.

Throughout Key Stage 3 (KS3), students will also have opportunities to take on leadership roles, leading small group activities or warm-ups. They will be encouraged to volunteer for leadership positions, fostering both individual and team contributions, while incorporating our “Fit for” initiatives to support their development.

Linking Learning to Sport Studies Qualifications

In each activity area, students will connect their learning to the Sport Studies qualification through three key principles:

  • Fit to Perform: Directly related to the Performance and Leadership unit, students will apply their skills, knowledge, and understanding of rules to improve their performance in various sports.
  • Fit to Lead: Also linked to the Performance and Leadership unit, students will have opportunities to design, deliver, and evaluate lessons and competitions, working with participants across a range of ages and skill levels.
  • Fit for Life: Connected to the Sport in the Media and Contemporary Issues units, students will explore the importance of physical activity in maintaining health and enhancing performance. They will also develop transferable life skills that can be applied beyond the physical education classroom.

Ongoing Assessment and Personal Growth

As part of our continuous assessment process, students will be evaluated every half term. This comprehensive assessment, aligned with our Fit for initiatives, will measure not only their practical and theoretical knowledge, but also their leadership capabilities and personal growth. Through this, students will gain a well-rounded understanding of both their progress in physical education and their development as individuals.

At Hadley Learning Community we encourage students to develop a passion for learning both in and outside of school. In order to develop this passion and understanding the PE department will set one piece of homework that will be issued in core PE each half term and a major project each term linked directly to current sporting affairs.

This homework will be a combination of knowledge based and practical activities, followed by a low stakes test to measure the students’ understanding.

The activities are linked to our fit for initiatives, along with knowledge, understanding and skill development which will be taught across all the activities areas and will therefore assist the students’ progress in lessons.

Please refer to our clubs timetable for the full range of our extra-curricular activities.

By the end of the KS3 PE curriculum students will have developed the below skills:

  • Understanding tactics
  • Physical literacy
  • Subject specific vocabulary
  • Teamwork
  • Problem solving
  • Leadership skills
  • Communication skills
  • Analysing situations

These skills will allow students to access the OCR Level 2 Cambridge National in Sport Studies course and therefore pursue further education and careers in sport.

About the KS4 Curriculum intent, implementation, and impact

In Key Stage 4 (KS4), every student will engage in at least six different activity areas over the course of the year. During Physical Education (PE) lessons, students will build upon the skills they acquired in Key Stage 3 (KS3), refining and mastering them.

In Cambridge National Sport Studies, students will deepen their understanding by developing leadership skills in sports performance, examining the impact of media on sport—both positive and negative—and exploring a wide range of contemporary issues within the sporting world.

Students in PE follow a curriculum consisting of 6 activity areas across each academic year. Within each activity area students will cover 3 strands: ‘Fit to Perform’, ‘Fit to Lead’ and ‘Fit for Life’. Students will be offered a diverse range of enrichment opportunities to further embed skills developed, character and create positive attitudes and relationships. Fit to Perform, Fit to Lead, and Fit for Life ensures that students will not only develop the physical skills necessary for success in sports but also gain valuable life skills such as leadership, resilience, teamwork, and empathy. The emphasis on both competitive and non-competitive opportunities, coupled with the focus on social, emotional, and physical health, will create well-rounded individuals who are prepared to navigate every opportunity.

In sport studies students will take part in 3 units of work, practically and theoretically. Students will have the opportunity to enhance their abilities as both a performer and a leader in performance and leadership, explore a variety of contemporary issues in sport and investigate into the dynamic relationship between sport and the media.

KS4 Physical Education and Sport Studies Overview

Students will engage in activities that are directly linked to the specific sport being studied, building on their prior knowledge of physical activity. Through team games and collaborative tasks, they will develop problem-solving skills and enhance their ability to analyse both their own and their peers’ performance through self and peer reflection.

Throughout the course, students will have opportunities to lead small group activities or warm-ups. They will be encouraged to volunteer for leadership roles, contributing both individually and as part of a team. These activities will also support the integration of our “Fit for” initiatives, promoting a holistic approach to physical education.

Connecting Learning to the Cambridge National Sport Studies Qualification

In each activity area, students will link their practical learning to the Cambridge National Sport Studies qualification through three key principles:

  • Fit to Perform: Linked to the Performance and Leadership unit, students will apply their developing skills alongside their understanding of rules to enhance their performance in a variety of sports.
  • Fit to Lead: Also part of the Performance and Leadership unit, students will have opportunities to design, deliver, and critique lessons and competitions for participants of varying ages and abilities.
  • Fit for Life: Connected to the Sport in the Media and Contemporary Issues units, students will explore the role of physical activity in health and performance, while developing an understanding of how exercise impacts overall well-being. Students will also develop transferable skills that are applicable beyond the PE classroom.

Tailored Learning Pathways

At HLC, students will experience a wide range of sports, allowing for a more tailored learning experience that meets the needs of individual learners. For example, when studying the invasion game section of the curriculum, students and their teacher will work together to choose the most appropriate sports that best develop the skills required for that particular unit.

Developing Leadership and Creative Skills

Throughout the course, students will enhance their leadership skills and creativity. They will progress from learning basic skills to applying them in competitive situations, with a continued focus on leadership development throughout Years 10 and 11.

Assessment Structure

Students in the Sport Studies qualification will be assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations:

  • Coursework-based Units:
    • Performance and Leadership
    • Sport and the Media
  • Exam-based Unit:
    • Contemporary Issues

This assessment structure provides a well-rounded evaluation of both practical skills and theoretical understanding, ensuring students are prepared for both their qualification and future careers in sport.

Students will strengthen their ability to study independently and improve their revision skills by actively applying effective strategies that boost their success.

Please refer to our clubs timetable for the full range of our extra-curricular activities

By completing the Level 2 Cambridge National in Sport Studies course, this equips students with the essential knowledge they need to progress to a level 3 qualification in sport, and then a career in sport. This course allows students to develop independence and confidence in using skills that would be relevant in the Exercise, Physical Activity, Sport and Health Sector. Students can develop a variety of transferable skills such as presentation skills, report writing, planning, team working, leadership and research skills. Importantly, this qualification also contributes to students being able to live healthy active lifestyles.