Gosforth Academy
PE
At Gosforth Academy we provided opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their social, mental and physical well-being.
We aim to build upon the prior knowledge our students have gained from our feeder schools by providing a high aspirational Physical Education curriculum which inspires all to succeed and excel in competitive sport and/or other physically demanding activities. It provides opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their social, mental and physical well-being.
PE at Gosforth will contribute to each student’s social development by helping them to co-operate, compete and to develop a sense of fairness, justice and respect. Mentally, it can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression, benefit academic achievement, and encourage school attendance and engagement. By enhancing each student’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, PE makes a significant contribution to the promotion of fundamental British values (e.g. democracy, respect and tolerance) and the development of essential life skills (e.g. resilience, communication and responsibility). In turn, PE at Gosforth complements our whole school Character Education programme which helps to embed values such as courage, creativity, integrity, persistence, service, teamwork and empathy. All of these make a significant contribution to the future employability of our young people.
Our high quality PE curriculum develops an interest in and patterns of physical activity which are essential for healthy development and which lay the foundations for healthy lifestyles (ICSSPE, 2010). We believe PE is the most effective and inclusive means of providing all of our students with the skills, attitudes, values, knowledge and understanding not only for lifelong participation in physical activity but also to flourish in education and life.
Aims
Our Core Physical Education curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities are physically active for sustained periods of time.
- Engage in competitive sports and activities.
- Lead healthy, active lives.
Students at Gosforth Academy will be taught to:
- Use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games [for example, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, netball, rounders, rugby and tennis].
- Develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports [for example, athletics and gymnastics].
- Perform dances using advanced dance techniques within a range of dance styles and forms.
- 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 their own and others’ performances compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best.
- Develop their leadership skills through a range of physical activities and challenges.
- Take part in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs.
Our Physical Education provision is enhanced further by our inclusion of academic PE/Sports courses at Key Stage 4 and 5. Through GCSE PE, A Level PE and BTEC Level 3 Sport and Exercise Sciences students can develop their competence in a range of sporting activities and increase their theoretical knowledge in topics such as Exercise Physiology, Sports Psychology and Socio-Cultural issues in sport. This is an interesting and challenging learning experience which will develop transferable skills including decision making, psychological understanding of people, independent thinking, problem solving and analytical skills as well as performing under pressure.
Beyond Post-16, the study of Physical Education can lead on to university degrees in sports science, sports management, healthcare, or exercise and health. Physical Education can also complement further study in biology, human biology, physics, psychology, nutrition, sociology, teacher training and many more.
In summary, physical education should be considered a core subject in the National Curriculum because it:
- Is already the only foundation subject which is statutory at all four key stages so regularly reaches every child in every school.
- Is the only subject which explicitly addresses the ‘physical development’ dimension of the aims of education and helps to remedy the current imbalance in the curriculum.
- Provides a range of physical, social and psychological health benefits.
- Helps to address serious and growing childhood health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and poor mental health.
- Is the foundation for active lifestyles, sport and recreation and provides a key stepping stone into community sport and lifelong activity.
- Directly contributes to the physical activity for health recommendation of at least one hour a day for school-aged children.
- Establishes a health habit in childhood to be continued through adulthood.
- Helps develops the whole young person and prepares young people for the future.
- Contributes to the future health and economic prosperity of the nation.
Curriculum Outline - Main School
Curriculum Outline - Sixth Form
