KS3

Our aim is to engage and educate young people in the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle by providing a variety of opportunities and experiences for students to develop their skills across a range of physical activity areas and in several different roles. We aim to encourage lifelong participation and would like all students, regardless of ability, to leave Robert Smyth feeling that they are confident to continue to participate in physical activity with an understanding of why this is important and how a healthy, active lifestyle can be achieved.

For each activity area in core PE there are a set of fundamentals that we expect students to reach as a minimum standard across each year.

In addition to our PE curriculum, we offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities. These lead to participation in local, regional and national competitions where we have experienced success across several sports and year groups in recent years. We also run a very successful Sports Leadership Academy where we offer the Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Qualifications in Sports Leadership (Please visit our Sports Leadership Academy page for more information).

Year 7 and Year 8 – Exploration

Core PE

In Year 7, students will learn and develop fundamental skills and identify key terminology (including laws/rules) from several sporting activities. Year 8 will build on the introductory units to sports; students will understand how to work and compete both as part of a team and as an individual. Alongside the sporting skills being developed, students will be introduced to relevant cross-curricular terminology relating to physiological and psychological understanding and their link with physical activity.

Students will gain an understanding of the importance of warming up and will be able to identify the major bones and muscles in the body in Year 7 before embedding this and an understanding of the effects of exercise in Year 8. Students will understand the distinction between sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance so that we foster a positive ethos and culture. Students will be given the opportunity to lead warm up activities to further develop confidence and communication skills and will analyse their own performance.

Areas to be covered: Invasion games (Football, Netball, Rugby, Basketball, Handball (Y8), Hockey, Net/Wall games (Badminton and Tennis), Gymnastic Activities (Trampolining), Health and Fitness, Athletics, Striking and fielding games (Rounders, Softball, Cricket). Outdoor and Adventurous Activities problem solving/teamwork).

Year 9 – Excitement

Core PE – Students will continue to develop their fundamental skills across a range of activities but will look in greater depth at the tactical application of these skills and how they can help achieve success. Students will be introduced to further activities. Students will develop their leadership skills by delivering a skill drill to fellow students and will look at analysing the performance of others. Students will understand the importance of different components of fitness and methods of training and how to identify and deal with injuries.

Areas to be covered: Invasion games (Football, Netball, Rugby, Basketball, Handball, Hockey, Net/Wall games (Badminton, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball), Gymnastic Activities (Trampolining), Health and Fitness (e.g. methods of training, boxercise, skipping, fitness suite), Athletics, Striking and fielding games (Rounders, Softball, Cricket)

KS4

Our aim is to engage and educate young people in the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle by providing a variety of opportunities and experiences for students to develop their skills across a range of physical activity areas and in several different roles. We aim to encourage lifelong participation and would like all students, regardless of ability, to leave Robert Smyth feeling that they are confident to continue to participate in physical activity with an understanding of why this is important and how a healthy, active lifestyle can be achieved.

For each activity area in core PE there are a set of fundamentals that we expect students to reach as a minimum standard across each year.

In addition to our PE curriculum, we offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities. These lead to participation in local, regional and national competitions where we have experienced success across several sports and year groups in recent years. We also run a very successful Sports Leadership Academy where we offer the Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Qualifications in Sports Leadership (Please visit our Sports Leadership Academy page for more information).

Year 10 and 11 – Expertise

Core PE

Students will continue to develop their tactical and leadership approach towards sporting activity with students leading independently to larger groups. In order to support deeper understanding of the importance of a healthy active lifestyle and lifelong participation in physical activity, students will experience a range of activities to maintain confidence and enthusiasm for participating in sport. Students will understand the importance of nutrition and goal setting and understand the importance of other psychological factors (concentration, confidence) alongside contemporary issues in sport e.g. drugs in sport.

Areas to be covered: Invasion games (Football, Netball, Rugby, Basketball, Handball, Hockey, Net/Wall games (Badminton, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball), Gymnastic Activities (Trampolining), Health and Fitness (boxercise, skipping, fitness suite, methods of training) Athletics, Striking and fielding games (Rounders, Softball, Cricket). Outdoor and Adventurous Activities (orienteering/problem solving/teamwork).

GCSE PE – students will enhance their understanding of the key physiological, psychological and biomechanical principles which underpin sport and physical activity. Students will understand how to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam questions. Students will follow the OCR GCSE PE specification and in addition to undertaking the theory and practical elements of the course they will complete an Analysing and Evaluation Performance (AEP) task.

Practical activities: sessions will focus on badminton, table tennis, volleyball, handball, trampolining, fitness, athletics, tennis, cricket.