This resource provides a quick and easy map of your child’s curriculum journey in PE. 

PE

Dance

Key Stage Three

The Key Stage 3 curriculum promotes confidence to participate in a range of sports and activities which will increase students opportunities for future engagement in physical activity.  It is underpinned by the philosophy of inspiring young people to excel in their own practical performance, leadership, personal responsibility and knowledge of health and fitness. These are our ‘big ideas’ that are delivered through teaching a variety of sports and activities, guided by the National Curriculum. 

Throughout Key Stage 3, students will be taught the following principles through a range of sports and activities: 

• Overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games
• Improve levels of performance in a range of competitive sports
• Perform dances using advanced dance techniques
• Take part in outdoor and adventurous activities which present intellectual and physical challenges
• Analyse performance compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best

Practical performance is developed through a plethora of sports and activities which begin in Year 7 by developing basic skills, techniques and strategies and builds by increasing the complexity of motor skills, strategies and tactics in Year 8. This is amalgamated in Year 9 by exploring more advanced tactics and strategies in order to improve levels of performance. Opportunities will be given in specific units of work, such as athletics, for students to analyse their performance and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best. Students will study and perform two different dance styles including Bollywood or Capoeira and Contemporary. 

A key focus of the Key Stage 3 curriculum at Co-op Academy Walkden is to create young leaders that have increased levels of confidence and communication skills. Throughout every unit of work students will be guided to develop and use their leadership qualities when working as part of a team and leading segments of lessons e.g. warm ups for small groups of their peers. They will be encouraged to develop their interpersonal skills, such as confidence, communication, active listening, responsibility, patience, resilience and empathy. Students will be taught team building skills in Year 7 and will use these skills to solve problems whilst orienteering in Year 8 and 9. They will also be taught an explicit leadership scheme of learning in Year 9. The intention of advancing students’ leadership skills is to encourage the use of them across all other subjects, areas of school and personal life and to encourage them to become lifelong participants in sport or physical activity. 

Students will be prepared for successful study at Key Stage 4, whether that be GCSE PE or Cambridge National Sports Studies. This includes developing leadership skills, the ability to officiate team and individual sports, analysing strengths and weaknesses in their own performance, developing theoretical knowledge of health and fitness and using the command words identify, describe and explain throughout question and answer sessions in all practical lessons. 

The extra-curricular programme provides chances to participate in competitive sport and activities including football, netball, basketball, rounders, cricket, dance, rugby, athletics, fitness, cross country and handball. 

Key Stage 4

The Key Stage 4 Core PE curriculum promotes an appreciation for the benefits of a healthy active lifestyle which will increase students opportunities for future engagement in physical activity. Students will experience sports and activities they have access to in their local community and sports that were most popular on student voice carried out with each year group in Key Stage 4, with the aim of a smooth transition from school to self regulated physical exercise. 

Throughout Key Stage 4, core PE students will be taught the following principles through a range of sports and activities: 

• Overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games
• Develop technique and improve performance in other competitive sports 
• Take part in further outdoor and adventurous activities which present intellectual and physical challenges
• Analyse their performances compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best

Sports will be taught with a recreational or competitive focus depending on the activity and the level of ability in the class. Lessons remain structured and students continue to strive to improve their motor competencies, knowledge of rules, strategies and tactics and appreciation of healthy participation. This is in order to inspire students to be life-long participants in sports or physical activity, especially as they near the end of their school career. 

The extra-curricular programme provides chances to participate in competitive sport and activities including football, netball, basketball, rounders, cricket, dance, rugby, athletics, fitness, cross country and handball. 

Cambridge National Sports Studies Level 2

2022/23

R184 Contemporary Issues in Sport

Students will explore a range of topical and contemporary issues in sport, relating to participation levels and barriers, the promotion of values and ethical behaviour through sport and the role of high-profile sporting events and national governing bodies in advancing sports’ attempts to positively impact upon society and showcase their worth beyond providing entertainment. This unit concludes with a formal exam that can be sat in January of Y11 and re-sat in June of Year 11 if required. 

R185 Performance and leadership in sports activities

In this unit students will learn how to develop their skills as both a performer, in two different sporting activities, and as a leader in one activity, where they will need to plan, deliver and review safe and effective sporting activity sessions.

Topics include:

Topic Area 1: Key components of performance

Topic Area 2: Applying practice methods to support improvement in a sporting activity

Topic Area 3: Organising and planning a sports activity session

Topic Area 4: Leading a sports activity session

Topic Area 5: Reviewing your own performance in planning and leading of a sports activity session

Unit R187: Increasing awareness of Outdoor and Adventurous Activities

In this unit students will learn about local and national opportunities and how using the correct equipment, clothing, facilities and technology can help them benefit from and enjoy activities safely, before they plan, participate in and review safe and effective outdoor and adventurous activity sessions.

Topics include:

Topic Area 1: Provision for different types of outdoor and adventurous activities in the UK

Topic Area 2: Equipment, clothing and safety aspects of participating in outdoor and adventurous activities

Topic Area 3: Plan for and be able to participate in an outdoor and adventurous activity

Topic Area 4: Evaluate participation in an outdoor and adventurous activity

2021/22 intake

RO51 Contemporary Issues in Sport

Students will explore a range of topical and contemporary issues in sport, relating to participation levels and barriers, the promotion of values and ethical behaviour through sport and the role of high-profile sporting events and national governing bodies in advancing sports’ attempts to positively impact upon society and showcase their worth beyond providing entertainment. This unit concludes with a formal exam that can be sat in January of Y11 and re-sat in June of Year 11 if required. 

RO52 Developing Sports Skills

Students will develop their skills, techniques and use of tactics/strategies/ compositional ideas in both an individual and a team sporting activity, as well as their understanding of the rules to allow them to act in a number of officiating roles within an activity. They will also consider the use of different practice methods in order to improve their performance. The unit builds upon the core themes of the National Curriculum for Physical Education in Key Stages 3 and 4 and offers learners the opportunity to refine and showcase skills developed as part of that programme of study.

RO53 Sports Leadership

Students will develop some of the knowledge, understanding and practical skills required to be an effective sport leader and plan, deliver and review safe and effective sporting activity sessions themselves. They will be encouraged to consider and evaluate their delivery and, by doing so, develop their ability to communicate with an audience verbally and through practical demonstration, and adapt to developing situations and the different needs and abilities of those they are leading.

RO56 Developing Knowledge and Skills in Outdoor Activities

Students will know about the range of outdoor activities that are available in the UK and be able to identify organisations that provide access to these activities. They will also be able to appreciate the reasons why people become involved in these activities and the risks they face when participating. Learners will consider how to plan an outdoor activity and be able to participate in one. They will gain an understanding of health and safety and risk assessments in outdoor scenarios, of detailed planning for a group activity with multiple variables, and they will develop their communication, decision making and leadership skills in challenging scenarios and environments.

GCSE PE

Students who select to study GCSE PE at KS4 will complete 7 units of work across 2 papers, with both exams being taken in Year 11. These will include:

Paper 1- The human body and movement in physical activity and sport.

Students develop their knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology and how this is affected during activity. Students also gain understanding in how to analyse movement and this can be applied to a range of different sports. This unit is concluded with an exam that students take in June, Year 11.

Paper 2- Socio-cultural influences and well-being in activity and sport.

Students explore contemporary issues within sport. They will gain understanding in sports psychology and the tools used by elite athletes to be successful. They will also gain understanding of health, fitness and what these mean. Students also look into well-being and how this is impacted physically, socially and mentally. They will also look into the use of data within sport and how this can be a tool to measure progress. This unit is concluded with an exam in June, Year 11.

Non-exam Assessment: Practical Performance in Physical Activity and Sport

Students are assessed in their practical performance in three different physical activities in the role of player/performer (one in a team activity, one in an individual activity and a third in either a team or in an individual activity). Students will then complete a written based assessment, where they will analyse and evaluate their performance to bring about improvement in one activity they have completed. 

Btec Tech Award Performing Arts – Dance Pathway

Students who select to studyBtec Tech Award Performing Arts – Dance Pathway

 will complete 3 components. Component 1 will be taken in year 10 and component 2 and 3 will be taken in year 11

 These will include:

Component 1 ExploringThe Performing Arts

In this component pupils will develop a practical understanding of how performing arts work is created. They will study roles, responsibilities and the application of relevant skills and techniques. They will have the chance to explore practically the work of different professionals to develop an appreciation of the methods they use. Students will explore a theme and communicate to audiences through their work. Students will broaden their knowledge through observing existing repertoire and by learning about professional approaches and how they create and influence performance material. This is an internal unit which will be completed in year 10

Component 2 Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts

In this component, students will develop performing skills and techniques. Students  will take part in workshops and classes where they develop technical, practical and interpretative skills through the rehearsal and performance process. Students will work from existing performing arts repertoire, applying relevant skills and techniques to reproduce performances of the work.Throughout the development, students will review their own progress and consider how to make improvements. This is an internal unit which will be completed in year 11

Component 3 Responding to a Brief

In this component, students will respond to a brief set by the exam board. The brief outlines the performance requirements and asks students to consider the target audience and to start the creative process by using the stimulus given. Working as part of a group, students will develop their ideas for a performance and apply their skills and techniques to communicate their creative intentions to the audience. This is an external unit and will be assessed at the end of year 11.

From studying Physical Education at Key Stage Four, you can go on to study Sport or PE at A-Level or a BTEC Level 3. This can lead to studying all sorts of subjects at University or onto exciting art based apprenticeships. For example:

• Sports therapist;
• Sports coach;
• Professional Sportsperson;
• Personal Trainer Sports Scientist.

Check out the range of apprenticeships here for which you need good physical skills or take a look at some more information about PE based degrees here.

Studying music can lead you to study a wide variety of subjects at University. Such as:

• Physiotherapy;
• PE teaching;
• Sports and nutritional Science.

Have a look at the UCAS website to see how many different combinations you can do.

The Curriculum Overview provides information as to how the curriculum is sequenced to enable students to build their knowledge and skills towards ambitious endpoints in each subject area. Click the picture to enlarge it and read more. Each terms’ learning is complemented by a knowledge organiser. 

Check them out