Introduction

Instilling a desire to maintain a prolonged healthy and active lifestyle.

Physical Education and Sport is the only subject that makes your heart race. Our goal is to empower students by developing their competence and confidence to take part in a range of physical activities to enhance their health, fitness, and overall wellbeing.
At the St Lawrence Academy, our PE curriculum is designed to be inclusive and of the highest quality. We aim to instil a love for learning by ensuring every student has the opportunity to enjoy, flourish and succeed in competitive sports and other physically demanding activities.
Our curriculum not only promotes participation but also cultivates character through sportsmanship and values like fairness and respect. Students will gain an understanding of effective performance and learn to apply these principles to their own endeavours and those of their peers.
Moreover, we provide ample opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular sports and activities, fostering the confidence and interest to maintain an active lifestyle beyond the classroom. By understanding and embracing the long-term health benefits of physical activity, students are equipped to lead fulfilling lives.

“All that matters in life, matters in sport…” Seb Coe, 2012

Key Stage 3

During years 7, 8 and 9 all students have two one-hour lessons of physical education each week. The curriculum is designed on an activity carousel, whereby both lessons each week focus on a specific activity for the duration of the activity block. This allows for sequential lesson planning enabling students to build on prior learning and progressively increase their knowledge and application of motor skills; rules, strategies and tactics; and healthy participation.

The aims at key stage 3 are for students to develop a wide range of skills and the ability to use tactics, strategies and compositional ideas to perform successfully. When they are performing, they will analyse the situations presented to them and apply into practical decisions. They will reflect on their own and others’ performances, finding appropriate ways to improve them. As a result, they develop the confidence to take part in different physical activities and learn about the value of healthy and active lifestyles. Students will discover what they like to do and what sports they perform strongly in. They will be encouraged to actively seek to get involved in physical activity inside and outside of school, as this will help them make informed choices about lifelong physical activity.

A broad and balanced range of activities are offered at The St Lawrence Academy, these include; athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, rounders, handball, dance, football, health related fitness, netball, rugby and outdoor and adventurous activities.

Across the units studied, students will be taught to:

  • Explore and develop a variety of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in team and individual games
  • Develop technique and improve performance in competitive sports and physical activities
  • Take part in outdoor and adventurous activities which present intellectual and physical challenges and be encouraged to work in a team, building on trust and developing skills to solve problems, either individually or as a group
  • Analyse and evaluate their own and others’ performances and demonstrate improvements
  • Take part in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs

Key Stage 4

The PE department offer a range of KS4 examination courses, which students can opt to student.Within these they have the opportunity to build upon the foundations set practically in KS3, further exploring the way in which parts of the human body work and function during physical activity and the physiological adaptations that can occur during training.

Sports Science

The OCR Cambridge National Level 1/2 qualification in Sports Science offers students an exciting pathway to explore the fascinating world of sports and exercise. This qualification provides a comprehensive understanding of the science behind physical activity, fitness, and performance. It is an engaging qualification where you will use your learning in practical, real-life situations, such as; understanding how to prevent and treat sporting injuries, understanding how different medical conditions can affect sports performance, applying the principles of training to fitness and skills development for sporting activities and understanding how the body systems change and develop in response to physical training.

Course Content and assessment

The course is split into 3 units and is assessed on 2 written pieces of coursework and one final theory examination in Year 11:

  • Principles of training, fitness, and how it affects skill performance (Worth 40% – Internally assessed/moderated – written coursework)
  • The body’s response to physical activity and how technology informs this (Worth 40% – Internally assessed/moderated – written coursework)
  • Reducing the risk of sports injuries and dealing with common medical conditions (worth 40% – External Exam)

Health and Social Care

The OCR Cambridge National Level 1/2 qualification in Health & Social Care introduces students to the biggest employment sector in the UK. A variety of settings including elements of the NHS, local authority adult and child care services as well as a range of independent providers which provide care for individuals across all age ranges are explored. Students will be encouraged to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of the rights of individuals, person centred values, effective communication and how to protect individuals in health and social care settings. They will develop learning and practical skills that can be applied to real-life contexts and work situations. By thinking creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically they will develop independence and confidence in using skills that would be relevant to the health and social care sector and more widely.

Course Content and assessment

The course is split into 3 units and is assessed on 2 written pieces of coursework and one final theory examination in Year 11:

  • Supporting individuals through life events (Worth 30% – Internally assessed/moderated – written coursework)
  • Creative and therapeutic activities (Worth 30% – Internally assessed/moderated – written coursework)
  • Principles of care (worth 40% – External Exam)

Performing Arts (Dance focus)

BTEC Performing Arts Dance helps students develop technical and expressive skills as well as knowledge and understanding of dance through performance, choreography and critical appreciation of dance. This exciting specification enables students to:

  • increase their confidence and self-esteem
  • employ the skills of problem solving and creativity
  • make knowledgeable decisions about dances
  • understanding effectiveness of working in teams to develop ideas, rehearsals and performances
  • develop performance disciplines and styles of dance.

Course Content and assessment

The course is made up of three components which all students must complete:

Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts. Students will develop and understand the requirements of being a dancer across a range of performance disciplines and performance styles. You will study professional practitioner’s choreography. (Worth 30% – Internally assessed/moderated – written coursework)

Component 2: (30%): Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts. You will develop dance skills and techniques. You will take part in workshops to develop technical and expressive dance skills.(Worth 30% – Internally assessed/moderated – practical/written coursework)

Component 3: Performing to a Brief. You will work as part of a team to create a dance performance in response to a given brief.(worth 40% – External Exam)

Core PE

At the St Lawrence Academy, students continue to take part in 2 hours of practical PE each week, even if they choose not to carry it on as an examination subject.They are given the opportunity to take part in activities that allows them to continue to lead a healthy and active lifestyle and that will give them the confidence and opportunities to explore sport both with school and outside in the community, leading to the using sport to provide a balanced lifestyle in post Academy life.

The sports offered to students are predominantly a continuation from Key Stage 3 but focus no longer on the teaching of new skills but the practical application of the skills and tactics into both drills and game-based scenarios. As they progress through the key stage they are given more ownership as to the activities they choose to participate in, for example they may choose to work on their fitness, making the most of the fitness suite, in preparation for leaving school and maintaining a level of fitness that will serve them well for both work and leisure. Other additional activities are also offered such as climbing, benchball and dodgeball as well as the opportunity when possible to access local off-site facilities (when timetable permits), making effective community links. In addition to participation, KS4 PE places a greater emphasis on students leading and officiating, however the prime emphasis is enjoyment and the opportunity for stress to be released and resilience developed to
cope with examination pressure.

Careers

Our Physical Education curriculum not only aims to develop students’ physical abilities but also equips them with valuable skills and experiences that can be applied to future careers. Participation in PE activities fosters teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, which are highly sought after in various professions. Moreover, engaging in regular physical activity promotes health and wellbeing, which is essential for success in any career. Students who excel in PE may pursue careers such as:

  • Sports Coaching
  • Personal Training
  • Physiotherapist
  • Sports Management
  • Sports Analyst
  • Nutritionist/Dietician
  • Sports Journalism
  • Sports Psychologist
  • Sports Development Officer
  • School Games Organiser
  • Sports Scientist
  • Physical Education Teacher
  • Professional Sports Careers

These career paths allow individuals to channel their passion for physical activity and sports into meaningful and rewarding professions.