At St Bede’s our intention is for our students to
- develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
- be physically active for sustained periods of time
- engage in competitive sports and activities
- develop qualities of leadership, confidence and team work
- be fully prepared to access physical, active lives and healthy lifestyles
Key concepts and activities are revisited each year, allowing students to develop their skills to become more controlled, fluent and precise as they progress through Key Stage 3.
Applying skills and strategies
In Year 7 students work in teaching groups to build on the fundamental skills of agility, balance and co-ordination they have developed in key stage 2 and apply these to new sports in competitive situations. To begin with, the focus is on students developing competence and control in a range of different activities, and they learn basic rules and patterns of play. Most activities are new to the students and so require simple skill development. In Year 8 these activities and skills are revisited, with students being challenged to be more precise in their use. They learn to apply them using efficient movement so strategies to win become more effective. In Year 9 students are expected to become more fluent and develop higher levels of linking and using skills in their performances, using t better movement and tactics to overcome the opposition.
Observation, analysis and leadership
In Year 7, students are given opportunities to develop basic skills of leadership of others within a group setting, such as leading a warm up. In Year 8, students are encouraged to take greater leadership responsibility; they are challenged to develop an understanding of the activity so they can make greater improvements to their own work and that of others. In Year 9 students begin to lead themselves in lessons through a variety of different situations, with some even acting as ‘teachers’ themselves.
Health & fitness
In Year 7 students are challenged to consider the fitness components of all the activities they take part in, and develop an understanding of the impact on heart rate and wider health benefits. These concepts are reinforced in Year 8 and students take their learning further by studying effects of specific training techniques. In Year 9 students study and take part in fitness testing and training methods specific to performance development.
Lifelong activity
Our aim is to provide our students with a lasting interest in engaging in physical activity. In Year 7 students are provided with a range of enjoyable opportunities to experience the feeling of success, encouraging further participation. In Year 8 physical activity is further encouraged through competitive opportunities in and out of school and students develop more sporting ability thus greater confidence in themselves. In Year 9 students continue to develop their performance in a range of activities, providing them with the skills to confidently continue outside of school as well as in.
