Physical Education

We encourage everyone to take part in lessons; even students with minor injuries and ailments can be given appropriate exercise. However if it is impossible to join in, we do require a letter from home explaining the problem; or in the event of a long term medical illness, a medical certificate is needed. We have tremendous sports facilities at Acton High and we hope that students will make the best possible use of them. 

Student Aims

• Become skilful and intelligent performers
• Develop their ideas in a creative way
• Set targets for themselves and compete against others, individually and as team members.
• Respond to a variety of challenges in a range of physical contexts and environments.
• Take the initiative, lead and focus on improving aspects of their performance.
• Discover their own preferences and aptitudes for different activities from which they can make informed choices for post school activity.
• Understand the links between exercise, good diet, sleep, social and mental well- being in sustaining good health.
• Make informed decisions about the importance of exercise and healthy lifestyles throughout their lives.
• Develop positive attitudes towards participation in physical activity.

Staff

• Mr P Banks Head of Physical Education
• Ms D Ryan Assistant Headteacher (Head of Performing Arts Faculty)
• Mr G McCormack 2i/c Physical Education
• Mr G Trefz Teacher of Physical Education
• Mr S O’Connell Teacher of Physical Education (i/c Football)
• Miss N Bamford Teacher of Physical Education (i/c Netball)

KS3 Curriculum – Year 7/8

During KS3, students are given the opportunity to develop a good set of basic skills, which will hopefully allow them to better access the activities they enjoy.

All students undergo an assessment programme at the start of Y7, which allows staff to better understand how their developmental needs can be met. This includes both skill and fitness based assessments, and provides the students with information that they can use to set themselves goals and targets to work towards during their teenage years.

Fitness testing is conducted twice a year and the results are recorded in the student planner to allow them to measure their own progress. The tests include cardio-vascular endurance, muscular endurance, power, strength and flexibility.

Students will be exposed to a variety of activities during Y7, with a positive focus on developing generic performance skills, which are then focused during Y8. In Y8 students are taught a range of sporting activities, with the focus more now on developing an understanding of the technical aspect of each sport. Specific skills are taught, as well as knowledge of rules and regulations.

KS4 Curriculum – Year 9

Year 9 Core PE

Students in Y9 are given a more personalised curriculum offer in Physical Education. We recognise that by this age, students have begun to make decisions about the type of physical activity they prefer, and may wish to continue with in later life. For this reason we offer Sports Pathways, as illustrated below. Each student selects a Pathway to follow and will remain on that Pathway for the academic year. We have found this to be extremely popular amongst students and have seen an improved attitude towards lessons as a result.

Pathway	Activities
Aesthetics	Trampolining, Dance, Fitness, Aerobics, Rhythmic Gymnastics
Fitness	Boxing, Fitness, Cross-Country, Circuit & Weight Training
Games	Football, Rugby, Badminton, Volleyball, Hockey, Netball
Leadership	Students gain Junior Sports Leader qualification

Year 9 Option Choice

If students chose Physical Education as their Performing Arts option in Y9 then they will study for a Level 2 BTEC First Certificate in Sport. This involves completing two units in Fitness Testing & Training and Practical Sport. At the end of the course, students have the option in Y10 to complete 3 further units to gain an Extended Certificate, or to build on their existing knowledge and take GCSE PE.

KS4 Curriculum – Year 10/11

Year 10/11 Core PE

Our focus for students in their core PE lessons is enjoyment; we firmly believe that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. We are aware that there are huge pressures on students in their exam based courses, and recognise the importance of providing a balance. Students are given a choice of activity in 6/12 week blocks. All students currently have the opportunity to work towards being entered for the WJEC Entry Level Certificate. This is a practical exam based on accumulation of marks from six different activities over the two years. (There is no written aspect to the course.) Students can select activities such as volleyball, aerobics, trampolining, etc, as well as the more conventional sports such as football, netball, basketball and hockey.

Year 10/11 Option Choice

EDEXCEL Level 2 BTEC First Extended Certificate in Sport

This course offers a vocational qualification that focuses on aspects of employment in the area of sport. It consists of 5 units and assessment is 100% coursework.

Unit 1: Fitness Testing & Training

This unit is worth 5 credits and gives learners the opportunity to explore the essential fitness requirements and training methods required to achieve successful sports performance.

Unit 2: Practical Sport

This is a 10 credit unit to develop learner knowledge of the rules, skills and techniques for one team and one individual sport through practical application.

Unit 4: Anatomy & Physiology for Sport

A 5 credit unit giving learners a good understanding of the structure and function of the main body systems.

Unit 11: Development of Personal Fitness

Another 5 credit unit building on the skills learnt in Unit 1. Learners will plan, implement and evaluate a personal fitness training programme.

Unit 18: Effects of Exercise on the Body Systems

A 5 credit unit which follows on from Unit 4 to explore the effects of exercise on the human body through participation in practical experiments and activities

EDEXCEL GCSE Physical Education

This course requires students to be competent in a range of practical activities either as a performer, coach or official. As well as developing an understanding of various topics surrounding sports performance. Assessment is 60% practical and 40% theory exam.

Our expectations are that students who take this course and achieve top level grades will continue on to take an AS level Sports Studies course.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

We have worked hard to develop an extra-curricular programme that caters for the needs of our students. Incorporating clubs focussed on participation as well as training sessions for our sports teams.

Lunch-time clubs run for 30 minutes and range from activities such as Fitness, Badminton and Football, to Boxing and Dodgeball.

After-school sessions run for 60 minutes. They include Trampolining, as well as providing training for competitive teams in Football, Basketball, Rugby and Netball.

We have a history of high level sporting achievement resulting from this programme including:

2010-11 Sporting Achievements

U14 Boys Middlesex County Champions 2011

U16 Girls Middlesex County Champions 2011

U16 Girls Futsal National Champions 2011

Junior Boys Borough Champions 2011

5 Athletes represented Ealing Borough at Middlesex Athletics

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