Physical Education

Ethos & Values

• To educate students through all 6 areas of the national curriculum.
• To improve communication, teamwork and problem solving skills through working with others.
• Encourage students to reach their potential by offering challenging targets and guidance in every lesson.
• Enhance self-esteem by encouraging students to take additional responsibility in lessons for coaching and officiating their peers.
• Use our excellent resources to stimulate student development by offering a range of activities.

The Physical Education department strives to enhance the development of students at Somercotes Academy by "educating through the physical". We encourage students to express themselves both individually and collectively in a variety of sporting activities. Students are not only taught about physical development but enhance inter-personal skills and their ability to work alongside others.

Knowledge & Skills

All pupils are taught Physical Education in all 5 years at Somercotes Academy and will develop the following skills:

• Pupils will develop skills in all 6 areas of the national curriculum
• Be encouraged to link together skills and ideas
• Perform skills with accuracy and consistency
• Understand how to prepare the body for exercise
• Work with others to achieve a common goal
• Develop knowledge of tactics and strategies in a variety of sports
• Improve performance of others

Those who choose GCSE Physical Education will also acquire knowledge in the following areas:

• Health, fitness and well-being
• Body systems
• Physical training
• Use of data
• Sports Psychology
• Physical Education in Schools
• Issues in Sport
• Role of Sponsorship and Media in Sport

Resources & Facilities

Somercotes Academy strives to meet the curriculum area demands of Physical Education. Currently we have a multi-purpose gymnasium which holds 3 badminton courts and houses a basketball court. It also allows activities such as fitness, table tennis, gymnastics and dance to be taught on the curriculum.

Our outdoor facilities are also of a high standard and allow pupils to experience all areas of the curriculum. Our field area is vast and allows for a number of groups to use it at one time. Other outdoor facilities available are:

• 2 full size football pitches
• 10 x 10 multipurpose grid squares
• 20 x 20 multipurpose grid squares
• 2 tennis courts
• 2 netball courts
• 1 cricket square

Our plans going forward include the building of a fitness suite to enable pupils to understand the benefits of exercise in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle. The fitness suite will cater for all users allowing pupils to carry out their own personal fitness programme whatever their gender, sporting background or fitness goals are. We also plan to enhance the changing facilities to enable pupils to have a specific area for changing.

With plans to further improve the sporting facilities available at Somercotes Academy it is clearly exciting times which promise to benefit the pupils who will have access to them.

Courses & Qualifications

Key Stage 3

Students follow the national curriculum in Physical Education. This involves covering a wide range of activities which includes football; rugby; tennis; gymnastics; dance; health related fitness; hockey; netball; rounders; badminton; basketball; athletics; cricket; softball, cheerleading, aerobics, outdoor and adventurous activities and cross-country.

Key Stage 4 (CORE)

Pupils continue to follow the curriculum and cover the activities from Key Stage 3 at a more advanced level.

Key Stage 4 (GCSE)

Those who choose Physical Education at GCSE will be timetabled 3 additional lessons per week. Pupils will have the opportunity to achieve a GCSE in Physical Education (AQA).

Learning Outside The Classroom

At Somercotes Academy, participation in sport is on the rise. It allows students to experience competitive sport in a fun environment. We have teams in a variety of sports which compete in local competitions. As well as offering the traditional school sports such as football, rugby and netball we are diversifying the after-school clubs we offer in order to cater for all. All pupils are encouraged to attend after-school clubs regardless of their ability or experience and it is an excellent opportunity to meet new friends.

In addition to the range of school teams and practices there are also numerous inter-house sport competitions in which students can enter. These competitions allow students to experience competitive sport by representing their house group in an organised competition. For those who enjoy team sports there are inter-house competitions in football, netball, basketball, badminton and rounders. Other inter-house events include cross-country and dance. One of the highlights of the school sporting calendar is the school sports day. This is again run as an inter-house event where students represent their house with all competitors contributing to their overall house total.

Where Does This Take Me In The Future?

We pride ourselves in not only developing the physical skills of our students but developing personal qualities that will aid them when they leave Somercotes Academy. They experience working with others to achieve a common goal while learning about the body and the importance of exercise. The skills and knowledge we hope to develop are:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Problem Solving
• Personal Responsibility
• Knowledge of Health and Fitness
• Literacy and Numeracy

By offering nationally recognised qualifications in Physical Education and Sport to students we also give them the first step to a variety of higher education courses and possible careers. Having completed a GCSE in Physical Education students can go on to:

• Study Physical Education at A/S and A Level at College or another establishment such as Tollbar Academy (providing entry requirements are met)
• Study Physical Education or Sports Studies in Higher Education
• Numerous university degrees and Masters courses including Sport Science, Teaching (P.E.) and Physiotherapy
• A career in teaching, physiotherapy, sport science, sports coaching, personal training, biomechanics, sport psychology and nutrition