Physical Education

Rationale

Physical education is a wonderful subject area to give students the building blocks to become healthy, active, emotionally aware young people. We teach PE in a way that uses sport and physical activity as the vehicle to deliver key content that will help them become physically literate whilst showing the positive behaviours that is required to be successful sportspeople and a positive member of society. The routines, rules, and expectations we have for our students are important to develop and inspire the future generations of leaders and members of a modern workforce. This curriculum is designed to prepare every pupil from 0-19 in the best way possible for an active life. We want to make sure that the Lower School pupils have the fundamental tools to access success in different disciplines both physically and mentally. Paving the way for Middle and Upper School pupils to develop the habits and techniques for a physically active future.

Our new concept-based curriculum is based upon the works of Osborn (2021) is underpinned by the research of Myers and Whitehead (2021) into developing the whole person through a lifelong journey of physical literacy (PL). Those 7 (PL) strands being:

• Autonomy: Pupils should take value and responsibility for their own engagement in physical activities for life. They must take ownership of their involvement.

• Personal Growth: Creating accomplishment can be realised in developing their own physical competence within sport and physical activity. Developing their bodies capabilities to withstand the physical and mental stresses of day to day life.

• Self-Acceptance: The awareness, contentment with your own personal potential and awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses.

• Purpose in life: Creating and fostering a clear sense of direction, showing commitment and perseverance towards engaging with sport regardless of their current ability level.

• Environmental Mastery: To have witnessed, been part of a rich variety of experiences within sport. This will give people the scope to draw upon those experiences within their later life.

• Positive Relationships with others: Pupils should embrace good interpersonal skills, listening, negotiating to take part effectively with others taking their role and supporting each other to achieve a common purpose.

This new mindset is a powerful idea that can co-exist with a performance focused objective and therefore enable all to succeed in their own way. ​We want to ensure that pupils are achieving the expected outcomes of the national curriculum whilst embodying those key PL skills and attributes at the same time.

PE has an opportunity like never before to re-examine what our subject has to offer. ​ 33% of pupils have poor body confidence (Youth Sport Trust, 2019), so let us teach self-esteem and self-worth. 92% of pupils suffer from exam stress, so coping skills, resilience, and mental health units are necessary. ​ Inactivity and childhood obesity are higher than ever, so planning and delivering units of work on diet and long-term benefits of physical activity are essential. Competition for jobs is tougher now so why not teach employability skills, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills? ​

Our approach to curriculum design that moves away from subject-specific content and instead emphasises “big ideas” that span multiple subject areas or disciplines. ​ A conceptual approach allows the sport and physical activity therefore to become the vehicle through the concept is delivered or developed. ​

Aims

The John Wallis Church of England History curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:

• To create a learning journey so pupils and staff can see the skills, knowledge, and experiences in a logical order to improve their learning experience.

• Give pupils the opportunity so they are physically active for sustained periods of time developing physical literacy that exceeds the national expectation.

• To give pupils the platform to become mentally and socially secure by performing in competitive sports, activities, and fitness cycles to improve their self-image.

• To give pupils the knowledge and habits to lead healthy active and fulfilled lives