Vision

‘To develop healthy, capable and resilient young athletes, while attaining widespread, inclusive, sustainable and enjoyable participation and success for all levels of individual athletic achievement.’

WHY is Sport and Physical Activity so important?

• Physically active students perform better in school than their inactive peers

• Improvements in general motor skills, functional fitness and physiological health

• Improvements in self-esteem, body image and mood

• Improvements in persistence, resilience and initiative. 

• Improvements in community cohesion, teamwork and positive relationships

• Improvements in cognitive functioning, memory and academic performance

In summary, the Queen’s College PE Department wishes to:

OFFER – Provision and quality coaching for all

ENGENDER – Enthusiasm and a lifelong love of sport and physical activity with all

EXPECT – High standards from all

The Physical Education curriculum is designed to be accessible for all pupils.

We have one 60 minute PE lesson per week where every child will gain the opportunity to learn new skills and concepts, to take part in some vigorous physical activity and to enjoy themselves.

Curriculum

Games

Games sessions are a huge part of Sport at Queens College. Each year group has a 2 hour 20 minute games session per week. These sessions differ from PE lessons as they focus on one sport per term, which feeds directly into our fixture programme.

GCSE PE

Students are given the option to study the AQA physical education course at GCSE. The course is both theoretically (60%) and practically (40%) assessed. 

The theory content is assessed by two 1 hour 15 minute papers worth 78 marks. The first, 'The human body and movement in physical activity and sport' covers Applied Anatomy and Physiology, Movement Analysis, Physical Training and Use of Data. The second paper, 'Socio-cultural influences and well-being in physical activity and sport' covers Sport Psychology, Social-cultural Influences, Health, Fitness and Wellbeing, and Use of Data. Both papers have a mixture of multiple choice, short and long answer questions. Paper one is taught in the first year of the GCSE, paper two in the second year. Both are examined at the end of year 11.

The practical assessment comes under the Non-Exam Assessment, which combines performance in three different sports with a written assignment on the analysis and evaluation of the student's own performance in their specialist sport. Students must be able to perform competently in a team and individual sport, and in at least one other of either grouping. It is recommended that they should be representing Queen's College in at least one sport. 

Students will have five lessons over the two week timetable, with three in the classroom for the theory and two with a practical focus. Lessons aim to deliver the content and allow students to apply their knowledge to sporting situations; preparing them fully for the assessments. The staff in the department teach all lessons with emphasis on the assessment objectives outlined by AQA. Practical lessons provide students with opportunities to progress further in their specialist sports, whilst also introducing newer sports and tactical concepts to allow for transfer of learning across activities, and a deeper understanding of a breadth of sports which can be used in the examinations. 

Further details of the GCSE content and assessed sports can be found at www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/physical-education/gcse/physical-education-8582. Alternatively, please contact the Head of Academic PE, Rachel Booton, rjb@queenscollege.org.uk.