Physical Education

The Physical Education (PE) programme at BSK is designed to provide the basis for the development and enjoyment of a wide range of sporting and leisure activities throughout life.  It also emphasises the need for general fitness, safety and a healthy lifestyle.

PE makes a unique contribution to a young person's education as it is concerned with the development of large motor skills, movement competence and learning through movement.

Aims

• The involvement of all students and contribution to their physical, mental, emotional and social education by providing situations and opportunities where they learn to cope with success and failure, develop self esteem, practise co-operation, trust, teamwork and tolerance.
• Involve students in problem solving, observation, decision-making, assessment and evaluation of their own work and that of others.
• Through the provision of successful and enjoyable experiences, enable students to develop positive attitudes towards activity and an appreciation of the contribution that physical activity makes towards healthy wellbeing throughout an individual's life.
• The ability to work safely and understand safe practice procedures is seen to be important in the development of the subject throughout the curriculum.

Whilst in BSK, students experience a wide variety of physical activities, which allow them to explore their own particular talents.  They are encouraged to take up these activities outside the school environment, wherever and whenever they can.  This will allow them to live as independent and self -motivated members of society in any community in which they might find themselves. Physical Education offers students the opportunity to develop a self-awareness and a positive self-image through participation, in a way that differs from all other subject areas.

PE encourages students to think, work confidently and sensitively in collaboration with others and allows them to develop social skills. Playing sport is a great social outlet and it can be a unifying force in society, bringing together many differing abilities, attitudes and cultures.

Human achievement and aspiration is expressed through physical prowess. The PE staff encourage students to do well and try to give them the ability to succeed, but we also stress the need to learn how to lose with grace and goodwill. This is very important in a world where everyone can't win all of the time.

Through dance, gymnastics and game skills, students are guided towards the area of aesthetics and creative expression, by making their own movement sequences and being asked to observe ad evaluate the work of others.

The promotion of good health and physical development is inherent in the physical education programme, allowing students to develop better co-ordination skills, strength, endurance and basic fitness, not only for school, but for life.

The general programme of study of Physical Education at BSK embraces all Key Stages outlining the importance of:

• healthy lifestyles
• positive attitudes to activity
• sportsmanship
• increased participation for all
• safe practice.

Throughout their years in BSK, students are introduced to all areas of study:

• Games (Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball and variations of these)
• Dance
• Swimming
• Gymnastics
• Athletics (culminating in Sports Days for all students).

At BSK the focus of Physical Education is mainly on games and swimming. However, all Upper Department students take an aerobics or health related fitness component.

Students have one double period of PE per week. To supplement this, students who are serious about performing at the upper levels of the National Curriculum usually participate in extracurricular activities.

Specialists teach PE in single-gender groupings from Year 6-11. PE is not taught in the Sixth Form Department.

We offer sport for all, where everyone can make a valuable contribution, regardless of ability.  We offer advice and help to those who need it to help reduce weight or build fitness to acceptable levels. In an increasingly competitive world we seek to show that there is value in doing, regardless of whether you win. We offer encouragement and guidance to those who show promise as athletes, pushing them to attain excellence and expertise.

GCSE PE

Physical Education can improve all aspects of a student’s life, physical, mental, social, moral, emotional and creative. In the GCSE Physical Education course, taught to students who select it in Years 10-11, students study the scientific and social elements of PE both practically and theoretically, as well as developing skills that will help them cope with and enjoy study.

Undertaking this course can lead BSK students to work and study within a variety of different areas, notably within the medical field and at sports institutes, while also assisting those interested in a career in professional sport and coaching.

The course covers a range of practical activities. Practical assessment will consist of demonstrating a high level proficiency in four separate sports or activities as well as an analysis of performance for one of these activities.

A study involving the skills, roles and tactics of each chosen sport will be undertaken and an oral examination will take place on a chosen activity. Students will be required to demonstrate their ability to analyse their own personal performance as well as that of others.

ICT is embedded into the curriculum through the use of heart rate monitors which are used for data logging as well as analysis and evaluation of information. Students studying GCSE PE also incorporate the use of Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word in the presentation of work. The internet is used as a research tool to further enhance class material. Students’ work is set, completed and marked using ICT in most cases.

Theory-based lessons will require the study of four principle areas over the two year period, which will cover the factors affecting participation and performance:

• training and exercise
• safety aspects and risk assessment in physical activity and sport
• applied anatomy and physiology
• revision and examination.

Practical aspects of the course are taught by demonstrations, video analysis and experimentation. The theory content incorporates the use of ICT, group and individual projects and presentations, teacher demonstrations of various anatomical movements, lectures and discussion.