Miss A A Beck - PE & Health Head of Faculty

Mrs N Strickland - Health Subject Leader

Mrs R Hobbs - Head of KS5 PE and 2 i/c in PE

The national curriculum is made up of a number of subjects, each of which is split into separate topics.

Introduction to Faculty

This Faculty covers all aspects of physical, mental, moral and social health. It encompasses the subjects of PE, PSHEe (personal, social, health and economic education), and Health and Social Care (KS5).

Our vision is to Inspire, Learn and Grow

The Faculty Intent

  • To develop confidence, motivation, and the desire to become physically and socially competent.
  • To understand and value others and take responsibility for maintaining a purposeful healthy life
  • To create physically literate and healthy students who enjoy and have a lifelong love of physical activity

There are 8 PE teachers, 2 health and social care teachers. All teachers contribute to the teaching of PSHE.

Extra Curricular Opportunities

We pride ourselves on a wide ranging offer of after school activities for students to participate in which we hope will help them develop as well, rounded healthy young people. More details can be found in the extra curricular section. These clubs are available to all students and create a safe and positive environment to help students reach their potential. The clubs are run by staff volunteers and outside specialist coaches.

Students are provided with the opportunity to lead through coaching and officiating in our intra school competitions.

For our most able students who are performing at county standard or above we offer the opportunity to become part of the Devizes School Sports Academy. The students in the academy will be offered the chance of training in our state of the art fitness suite facility.

Miss A Beck - PE Subject Leader

Physical Education and school sport is at the heart of Devizes School life. We aim to provide all students with a positive experience and a wealth of opportunities in both physical education and sport.

A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It provides opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect. We offer a wide ranging and inclusive curriculum, both individual and team activities, covering invasion games, striking and fielding games, net/wall games, swimming, athletics, outdoor and adventurous activities and gymnastics, developing both competitive skills and a good understanding of a fit and healthy lifestyle. The impact being a lifelong love of physical activity.

Key Stage 3

In KS3, students will develop a love for learning and enjoyment in physical activity throughout our curriculum. Our students go into KS4 with the skills and behaviour that will equip them to study PE courses and continue to enjoy being physically active within their core PE lessons.

All year 7 and 8, and 9 students receive 100 minutes of PE. During KS3 students will receive lessons in a variety of activity areas and lessons are for the majority delivered in single sex groups. We provide our students with a varied curriculum, a regular part of the KS3 programme is the intra-school competitions offered through house teams including: Rugby (Girls and Boys), Netball, Swimming, Football, Hockey, Cricket and Rounders. Our students are enthusiastic about trying new activities, our curriculum provides the opportunities they wouldn’t necessarily have experienced at primary school, these include; Badminton, Trampolining, Softball, Squash, Table Tennis and Basketball.

KS3 Assessment

We feel it’s essential to not only monitor and assess student’s physical capabilities but also, their growth mindset. Students are given opportunities to develop their confidence and leadership skills. We provide support for them to complete tasks independently and overcome challenges to make meaningful progress.

Key Stage 4

Core PE – In Year 10 and 11 all students receive 100 minutes of PE a week. The sort of activities they can choose include; basketball, bowls, fitness, cross country, tennis, softball, rugby, ultimate frisbee, dodgeball, rocketball, golf, water polo, squash, table tennis, trampolining, volleyball, badminton and dance. The aim of these lessons is to inspire the students into life-long activity by trying new sports and developing their skills.

Students can also opt into examination courses in PE which include GCSE PE and Cambridge National in Sport Science. Results are outstanding in these courses and provide students an excellent platform for higher level study of sport or considering a career in sport, PE or the leisure industry.

GCSE PE –a highly successful course and as part of the options process students can choose to complete a GCSE in PE, with 40% practical where the best 3 sports of each student are assessed (of which there needs to be a combination of individual and games related sports), and 60% theory with an exam at the end of Year 11.

Cambridge National in Sport Science – this is a vocationally related qualification that takes an engaging, practical and inspiring approach to learning. It provides students with a broad knowledge of different aspects of sports science including sports psychology and nutrition and equips students with practical skills such as designing a training programme.

Key Stage 5

A-level PE – a highly successful course that covers anatomy and physiology, skill acquisition, biomechanics, exercise physiology, sports psychology, sport and society and practical sports. 70% theory and 30% practical.

Cambridge Technicals – a vocational course, with equivalent UCAS points to a-levels, is a project based course that can be offered as either a double or single award. Types of topics covered include; anatomy and physiology, sports coaching, nutrition in sport and current issues in sport.

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Mrs N Strickland - Health Subject Leader

Key Stage 3

PSHEe

During Key Stage 3 PSHEe students are encouraged to explore lots of topics that continue to develop throughout Years 7, 8 and 9. The schemes of work develop their awareness of the world around them, perhaps challenging some of the existing ideas and inform them about the decisions and responsibilities they will face in life. During Key Stage 3 students look at Sex and Relationships, Sexual Exploitation, Mental Health, Careers, Finance, Personal Safety and Health. In a trusting environment, students develop their analytical skills, their ability to listen and accept the views of others and their debating skills. Students see a specialist teacher once a fortnight for these lessons. Outside speakers such as the local police are used to clarify issues of 'sexting' and keeping safe on line.

Key Stage 4

PSHEe

Students continue to look at the topics introduced at Key Stage 3, but specific issues are investigated. Teachers help to develop a better understanding of health choices, a more in depth focus on Mental Health and Smoking and Alcohol. Specific issues with body image and parenting are also addressed.

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  • Exam Board: OCR
  • Specification Code: J835
  • Qualification: Cambridge National
  • Exam: 25%
  • Coursework: 75%

Course Content

RO32: Principles of care in health and social care settings.

RO33: Supporting individuals through life events.

RO34: Creative and therapeutic activities

Who should choose this course?

Those students who are interested in any future career in health, social and early years. The units are varied and allow students to develop an understanding of working with people, and how these units are applied. The requirements for this qualification mean that students will complete 75% of their work as coursework, therefore students need to be organised, keep to deadlines and be focused during lessons. Students will also have to sit an exam at the end of Year 11 which contributes 25% of the overall grade.

Progression

From this course, students could go onto Cambridge Technical in health and social care at level 3 and child development courses, for future job roles such as:

  • Healthcare practitioners e.g., nurse, doctor.
  • Youth worker
  • Registered Care Manager
  • Charity Officer
  • Physiotherapist
  • Occupational Health
  • Teacher
  • Speech Therapist
  • Teaching Assistant
  • Child Psychologist

Single Award OCR

A highly successful course that combines exam unit and portfolio units. It covers all areas of Health and Social Care, including Early Years, Health Promotion, Communication and Mental Health. During the Year 12 work students go out on a work placement where they can experience what it is like working in a Health or Social Care setting. Students have five lessons a week, where they complete a mixture of written assessments and classroom based activities.

PSHEe

During Sixth Form Enrichment time students have PSHEe topics delivered to them throughout different times of the year. The sessions are usually 2 lessons long and we encourage outside speakers to come and engage the students. Recent topics have included Sexual Health, where our School Nurse has provided help and guidance. Other sessions include Careers choices and Body Image.