Staffing
The Physical Education Department consists of nine members of staff, seven physical education specialists and a swimming instructor. They make up an enthusiastic, committed and hardworking team, who are keen to foster pupils’ participation, enjoyment and progress in physical education as well as being actively involved in whole school development and in promoting the ethos of the school.

Facilities
The school has extensive fields and outdoor facilities enabling the department to offer a wide range of traditional games and Outdoor and Adventure Activities.
These include:

2 rugby pitches
2 football pitches
1 full sized hockey pitch
1 astro turf cricket wicket
1 Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)
3 netball courts
4 tennis courts
1 long jump pit
300m grass athletics track (summer)

Indoor facilities include a 20 metre swimming pool and two gymnasia, one of which is fully equipped for gymnastics.

Key Stage 3
On entry, pupils are taught in mixed ability, single sex groups and subsequently set in Years 8 and 9. Throughout Key Stage 3, the physical education programme follows National Curriculum guidelines and is delivered in two, one-hour lessons per week.

Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4, pupils have one hour of core P.E. each week and in order to fulfil National Curriculum requirements we offer a guided option programme of activities. Pupils are also offered the opportunity to study GCSE Physical Education at Key Stage 4 and this is certainly a strength of the department, with large number of pupils opting to follow the course each year. View GCSE Physical Education AQA Specification (Word document).

Extra Curricular Activities
The extensive programme of extra curricular activities further enhances the P.E. curricular and is offered to all pupils. We have achieved success in a wide range of individual and team sports at all levels ranging from local to national. This is a reflection of the expertise of the P.E. staff supplemented by commitment of teachers from other subject areas.

The department aims to:

1. Develop physical competence and help to promote physical development. Maintain and/or stimulate pupil interest and enjoyment in P.E. by providing purposeful, challenging experiences and opportunities for success in a range of physical activities.

2. Arouse the desire of pupils to participate in physical activities and exercise at school and in the future and enable pupils to see P.E. as a major feature in our lives related to leisure, employment and culture.

3. To teach our pupils, through experience, to know about the value and the benefits of participation in physical activity whilst at school and throughout life. To ensure a pride in health and fitness and an understanding of how to remain healthy and fit for positive living.

4. To enable pupils to understand and use safe practice and to appreciate its importance in P.E. The importance of this is enhanced by emphasis of the following: