KEY STAGE 4

2. Key processes

These are the essential skills and processes in PE that students need to learn to make progress.

2.1 Developing skills in physical activity

Students should be able to:

  • improve the range, difficulty and quality of their skills and techniques
  • develop the consistency with which they use and perform skills with precision, control and fluency.

2.2 Making and applying decisions

Students should be able to:

  • select and use tactics, strategies and compositional ideas imaginatively in complex and demanding creative, competitive and challenge-type contexts
  • design original and effective plans that improve their own and others’ performance
  • respond effectively and imaginatively to changing circumstances as they arise during a performance.
  • organise and manage the environment they are working in to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves and others.

2.3 Developing physical and mental capacity

Students should be able to:

  • analyse how mental and physical capacity affects performance
  • maintain and develop their physical strength, stamina, speed and flexibility to cope with the demands of different activities and active lifestyles
  • prepare mentally for successful involvement in physical activity, performance and engagement in healthy, active lifestyles.

2.4 Evaluating and improving

Students should be able to:

  • critically evaluate, analyse and judge the quality and effectiveness of performance
  • make informed decisions about how to improve the quality and effectiveness of their own and others’ performances
  • develop and implement imaginative action plans to improve the quality and effectiveness of performances
  • design original and effective plans that improve the quality of their own and others’ involvement in healthy, active lifestyles.

2.5 Making informed choices about healthy, active lifestyles

Students should be able to:

  • identify the types of physical activity available to them and the roles they would like to take on
  • link physical activity with diet, work and rest for personal health and wellbeing
  • make informed decisions about getting involved in a lifetime of healthy physical activities that suit their needs.

3. Range and content

This section outlines the breadth of the subject on which teachers should draw when teaching the key concepts and key processes.

The study of PE should include activities that cover at least two of the following:

  • outwitting opponents, as in games activities
  • accurate replication of actions, phrases and sequences, as in gymnastic activities
  • exploring and communicating ideas, concepts and emotions, as in dance activities
  • performing at maximum levels in relation to speed, height, distance, strength or accuracy, as in athletic activities
  • identifying and solving problems to overcome challenges of an adventurous nature, as in life saving and personal survival in swimming and outdoor activities
  • exercising safely and effectively to improve health and wellbeing, as in fitness and health activities.

In year 10 students work on outwitting opponents in the following games, netball, football, rugby, basketball, volleyball, cricket, rounders and tennis. Students perform at maximum levels in relation to speed, height, distance strength or accuracy in a number of athletic events in the summer term. Students also learn how to exercise safely and effectively to improve health and well being in their fitness module.

In Year 10 students can apply to get on the Sport or Dance Leaders Award. It’s a practical qualification where candidates learn through doing, rather than through written work. A candidates ability as a competent leader is assessed by observation rather than written tests. The award is a fantastic way of delivering elements of the Physical Education National Curriculum at Key Stage 4.

Students in Year 11 are given the opportunity and responsibility to select two activities of interest from a number of options, which include a fitness centre, swimming pool, self defence course, Tennis coached sessions, Badminton, Football and trampolining lessons. The programme objective is to give the students a taste of what opportunities are available to them once they leave the structured school environment in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.