KS3 Curriculum Overview

Key Stage 3 PE provides a broad range of physical experiences through which students develop movement skills, sport-specific techniques, tactical understanding, fitness, teamwork and confidence. Students also develop their knowledge of healthy lifestyles, leadership, communication and personal responsibility.

What Will Be Taught

Students experience a varied programme of individual, team, competitive and creative activities. Learning is sequenced so that students build on previous knowledge and skills, apply them in increasingly challenging situations and understand how to improve their own performance and support others.

How Can I Support My Child at Home?

• Encourage regular physical activity and participation in activities your child enjoys.
• Discuss the importance of sleep, hydration, nutrition, recovery and a balanced lifestyle.
• Encourage students to watch, follow or take part in sport and to discuss the skills, tactics and values they observe.
• Support attendance at clubs, fixtures and enrichment opportunities where appropriate.
• Encourage your child to reflect on feedback and set realistic goals for improvement.

Key Stage 4 – Core Physical Education

During Years 10 and 11, students receive one core PE lesson each week. The aim is to provide students with a platform to continue leading healthy, active lives beyond school. The emphasis is on positive engagement, enjoyment, personal responsibility and developing the confidence to remain physically active.

Curriculum Overview

Students continue to develop physical competence through a range of activities while strengthening their understanding of health, fitness, wellbeing, teamwork and leadership. Students are encouraged to make informed choices about physical activity that can support their wellbeing beyond school.

What Will Be Taught

Practical activities, fitness and healthy-lifestyle knowledge, leadership opportunities, teamwork, communication and the personal qualities needed to participate positively and independently.

Scheme of Assessment

Assessment focuses on students’ development of practical skills, knowledge, application, participation and personal improvement. Feedback is used to help students understand what they can do, what they need to improve and how they can make progress.

Useful GCSE PE Revision Links

The existing GCSE PE video resources should be organised by unit so that students can quickly find support for each topic. The current resource bank covers Units 1–6, including the cardiac cycle, EPOC, aerobic system, gaseous exchange, lung volumes, movement analysis, training methods, sports psychology, commercialisation and media, barriers to participation, hydration, diet and nutrition.

At Gaynes School, our sporting extra-curricular programme extends learning beyond curriculum PE. We provide opportunities for students to develop interests and talents, build confidence, strengthen relationships, take on leadership responsibilities and experience the wider benefits of participation in sport and physical activity.

Clubs currently include football, netball, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, rounders, athletics and cricket. Clubs run from 3:20–4:20 and are free to attend. Students should notify parents/guardians that they are attending and of the finish time. Where clubs are cancelled because of fixtures or staff training, this will be communicated in advance where possible through Google Classroom and ParentMail.

Participation is encouraged as part of Gaynes School’s wider commitment to a broad range of enrichment and personal development opportunities. Attendance and participation are monitored so that students can be recognised for sustained engagement and so that barriers to participation can be identified and addressed.

We aim to ensure that opportunities are accessible to all students, including those who may face barriers to participation. Where appropriate, reasonable adjustments, adaptations or additional support can be considered so that students can participate meaningfully.

Students representing the school are expected to demonstrate the school’s values, respect opponents and officials, and behave appropriately. The school operates a no-spectators policy for sporting fixtures. Students attending clubs should wear the appropriate Gaynes PE kit and bring the equipment required for the activity.

PE provides opportunities for students to move beyond participation and develop leadership and responsibility. Students may contribute through officiating, coaching, scoring, supporting events and other leadership roles. These experiences help students develop communication, organisation, confidence, teamwork and independence.

Our wider enrichment offer complements curriculum PE and supports the school’s commitment to ensuring that students experience opportunities beyond the classroom. Participation is tracked so that the school can celebrate involvement and identify students who may need additional encouragement or support to access opportunities.

Physical Education contributes directly to students’ personal development and wellbeing. Students learn how physical activity can support physical health, confidence, resilience, relationships and lifelong wellbeing. They develop the knowledge and habits needed to make informed choices about activity, nutrition, hydration, recovery and healthy lifestyles.

The renewed Ofsted framework places personal development and wellbeing alongside curriculum and teaching, inclusion, achievement, attendance and behaviour, safeguarding, and leadership and governance. For PE, this reinforces the importance of showing not only what activities are offered, but how students benefit from them and how participation is made accessible.

PE can lead to a wide range of further study and career pathways. Students can explore careers that combine sport with science, technology, health, education, coaching, performance, media and entrepreneurship.

Technology and Performance Analytics

• Performance data analyst – analyses physiological and biomechanical data to support athletes and coaches.
• Virtual reality training specialist – develops immersive training and simulation environments for skill development and rehabilitation.

Health and Wellbeing

• Personalised wellness coach – combines exercise knowledge with information from health-tracking technology to support wellbeing goals.
• Virtual health coach – supports clients remotely with physical activity and wellbeing goals.
• Corporate wellness coordinator – supports workplace health and wellbeing programmes.
• Recreational therapist – develops physical activity programmes for people with different needs or during recovery.

Coaching, Education and Sports Science

• PE teacher, including specialist and inclusive PE teaching.
• Sports physiotherapist – supports injury treatment, rehabilitation and prevention.
• Strength and conditioning specialist – develops training programmes for athletes and teams.
• Performance sports scientist – applies scientific principles to training, nutrition and performance.

Media and Entrepreneurship

• Fitness content creator – develops written, video or digital fitness content.
• Sports and fitness journalist – communicates stories and information about sport, health and physical activity.
• Fitness event coordinator – plans and manages sporting or wellbeing events.
• Fitness entrepreneur – develops and manages a business or service within the fitness industry.