Physical Education
Intent
At Waltham Tollbar Academy the Physical Education curriculum is designed for students to build on and develop the fundamental skills that are taught across Key Stage 2, encouraging each individual to make progress and realise their potential through opportunities. This is achieved through tailored learning experiences and careful sequencing of the curriculum. This in turn allows students to become more competent and confident in their physical techniques, applying them across a wide range of sports and physical activities in a safe environment in order to achieve their best.
We aim for all students to develop values such as fairness and respect as well as create opportunities to develop personal and social skills such as; communication, co-operation, leadership, tolerance, respect and the ability to solve problems and evaluate themselves and others. Through lessons students have the opportunity to develop knowledge and appreciation of rules and regulations, as well as the awareness of safety considerations when exercising in addition to developing techniques, tactics, knowledge and understanding across the wide range of activities offered.
Students are encouraged to develop the links between current issues in the local area and society, such as equality, opportunities and the impact of fitness on the health of the individual and the nation. We offer activities that challenge common misconceptions by including football, netball and rugby for all students regardless of gender. We foster links with local sports clubs to enable students to become familiar with opportunities in the community in hope that they will continue to engage in physical activities beyond their stay Academy.
There is a comprehensive range of extra-curricular activities and inter house events throughout the year which open to all students. These give students the opportunity to develop their skills and techniques further and there is potential to represent the Academy against other schools and compete at district, county and national level, allowing them to excel further. As well as opportunities to progress as a performer, students have the chance to develop their leadership skills by completing a Sports Leaders qualification in year 9 and year 10.
KS3
Students complete a series of baseline tests in year 7 which allows the students to be placed in a group that is suitable for their ability level. All groups complete the same broad range of activities that include team sports and individual activities in a competitive non-competitive context. Students develop an appreciation of aesthetic qualities in movement (dance and gymnastics), teamwork and co-operation in games activities and the ability to make personal improvements (in athletics). In year 7 , 8 and 9, students are building on the basic fundamental movement skills and techniques as well as developing their knowledge of rules across a wide range of sports.
During year 10 and 11 students are consolidating skills and developing more advanced techniques and tactics in Key Stage 4. The PE curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced to ensure that every child has access to a broad and balanced range of activities. The sequencing is modelled around access to our facilities that include a sports hall, 2 smaller gymnasiums, a fitness suite as well as numerous hard courts and grass pitch options.
KS4
At Waltham Tollbar Academy we offer the option to study sport as a qualification in Year 10 and 11. The Academy runs two qualifications at KS4:
- GCSE Physical Education – delivered via AQA
- Level 2 BTEC Technical in Sport - delivered via Pearson Edexcel
Both these courses allow students to gain a more in depth understanding of how the body works, how physical activity affects the body, the psychological aspect of sport and how sport is affected by issues in society.
