The KS3 physical education programme offers students the opportunity to focus on further developing skills learnt in Key Stage 2 and to introduce these skills into game situations. Pupils will be given the opportunity to become increasingly skilful and intelligent performers, acquire and develop skills, learn how to select and apply skills and basic tactics, and develop positive attitudes to participation in physical activity. Students in PE are assessed through practical ability during lessons and assessment is updated half termly (5-7 weeks). The KS3 PE curriculum is designed to encourage breadth of study and participation and engagement both in and outside of lessons. Throughout their time at the Academy students will: Develop confidence to excel in a broad range of physical activities, be physically active for sustained periods of time, Engage in competitive sports and activities and be encouraged to lead healthy, active lives. The curriculum supports students towards KS4 where students will use PE lessons to master skills learnt previously in KS3. 

To aid progress in KS3 and to provide depth of study students will take part in one 100 minutes of PE lesson per week in KS3. This gives opportunities to cover a range of activities which can then be developed to support the progression towards KS4 both for engagement and participation in core PE and to support academic achievement in examination courses. We will encourage our students to: 

• Succeed in acquiring the skills, knowledge and understanding sufficiently to perform successfully in a range of sporting activities. 

• Engage in the learning of transferable leadership skillls 

• Develop their decision-making and problem-solving capacities;  

• Know how to use physical activity to enhance their physical and mental well-being so that being active forms part of their life-long identity; 

• Develop the confidence to perform under pressure;  

• Increase their self-confidence and their ability to trust in others; 

• Develop their empathy for others; 

• Understand (and be given the chance to explore) issues relating to body image and body confidence at appropriate stages of their PE experience. 

In addition to their curriculum lessons all students will be encouraged to take part in a range of extra-curricular clubs and activities. From these clubs students will also have the opportunity to be selected to take part in competitive sporting fixtures at both City, County and National levels. 

Sporting clubs offered throughout the year include Football, Rugby, Badminton, Sports Leaders, Netball, Trampolining, Fitness, Climbing, Athletics, Cricket, Rounders, and Tennis. These all offer students an opportunity to develop their performances from the PE curriculum. 

To ensure that all students aspire towards mastery in specified skills, techniques and tactics, knowledge and understanding for students will be formatively assessed regularly at KS3 and teaching is adapted accordingly. Assessment will be used to judge success and progress towards mastery, with teaching time allocated to practical work. The impact of the curriculum upon students becoming athletes or sports analysts who can make critical and balanced judgements can be tracked through students’ participation in sports clubs, sports events/ festivals, whether they watch current sporting events, read health and sport publications that relate to issues in sport and whether students choose to do GCSE PE or BTEC sport in KS4. KS4 examination success is judged on assessments in line with the academy assessment timetable and mock exams in year 10 and 11.