Why PE?

PE is an integral part of the Ridgeway curriculum. Opportunities to take part in sport and perform in a competitive environment enrich students’ experience in school as well as helping us learn about working together. It builds character and helps to embed values such as fairness and respect.

Competition promotes endurance, one of our five ‘LEARN for Success’ attributes. It reminds us that success doesn’t come easily and teaches us to deal with, and learn from, setbacks and defeat.

PE plays a central role in teaching students how to lead healthy, active lives, as well as helping improve their understanding of — and skill levels in — a wide variety of sporting disciplines.

PE in key stage 3

PE is a hugely popular part of the timetable with students receiving two lessons of core PE a week to embed the physical development and skills learned in key stages 1 and 2. Students follow a broad curriculum, instilling the confidence to lead a healthy and active lifestyle as well as preparing them for the rigours of key stage 4. Activities are sequenced to achieve optimal learning outcomes, provide smooth transitions between activities and build upon knowledge developed from previous lessons and activities.

Students are taught a broad range of concepts including:

Using a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through sports such as badminton, basketball, cricket, dodgeball, football, futsal, handball, netball, rounders, rugby, softball, table tennis and tennis.
Developing their technique and improving their performance in other competitive sports through activities such as athletics and gymnastics.
Performing dances using a range of techniques and styles including jazz, hip-hop and ceremonial.
Outdoor and adventurous activities through activities such as orienteering and problem solving.
Analysing their performance and demonstrating improvement towards their personal best through activities such as health-related fitness.

Students are also given the opportunity to take part in competitive sports and activities outside of school through community and sports clubs links in a number of sports.

Students also engage in a range of inter-house opportunities throughout the year including 3 sports days: Winter Games, Commonwealth Games and a traditional Sports Day. There are also a number of other inter-mural events running throughout the year including inter-form football, individual and team table competitions and inter-house tournaments held regularly in netball, rugby, short tennis and decathlon.

Students are also offered the opportunity to engage in a range of broader sporting projects including:

Girls’ Football Week
National Football Week
Sport Relief
This Girl Can
National School Sport Week
Unified Sport events

PE in key stage 4

All students participate in PE in key stage 4 with the aim of tackling complex and demanding activities that build upon knowledge and skills developed in key stage 4, as well as developing personal fitness and promoting a lifelong love of leading an active and healthy lifestyle.

Students who opt for PE take the BTEC Level 1/2 First Award in Sport. Uptake in PE is high and has increased rapidly over recent years, with the vast majority of students achieving at least, if not above, their expected grade.

Examination Board: Pearson
Specification Name: BTEC Sport
Link: BTEC PE