Physical Education & Sport

Curriculum Intent

‘Maximising Participation and Developing Excellent’

At Blenheim High School, we believe that Physical Education and school sport contributes to the totality of the educational experience of students. Physical, personal, social, moral, spiritually, culturally and emotional development are enhanced by the movement experiences that make up our broad and balanced Physical Education curriculum. Physical Education provides a range of experiences that form the basis for lifelong sporting and recreational activity which inspires all students to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. 

Physical Education at Blenheim offers a wide range of team and individual activities through which the department aims to develop a positive attitude towards participation and a high level of performance. They are encouraged to compete and co-operate with each other, understand and appreciate their own performances and those of others and to respond and interact appropriately when participating in various roles.

Facilities

  • Sports Hall with indoor Cricket nets.
  • Dance studio.
  • Floodlit astro-turf all weather pitch.
  • Five outdoor Tennis courts.
  • Four outdoor Netball courts.
  • Three grass pitches with adjacent training areas.

Extra-curricular Sports Clubs

At Blenheim we have a wide range of extra-curricular sports clubs that take place in the mornings and after-school. All students are welcome to attend as many clubs as they like. Students' commitment and positive attitude to these clubs are rewarded each year through our ‘Sports Colours’ assemblies where students can achieve certificates, badges, polo shirts and a special sports tie.

We have a comprehensive fixtures list in many different sports and compete in district, county and national level competitions. We also have students who compete at both county and national level in sports such as Football, Cricket, Netball, Speed Skating, Swimming, Cheerleading, Go karting and Wakeboarding.

For a weekly guide to what clubs and other events are on offer, as well as the results of match fixtures, please refer to our Sports Bulletin. 

A level Physical Education

Course Details

The course is split into four separate components:

Component 1 (40%), is concerned with three distinct theoretical units of Applied Anatomy and Physiology, Exercise Physiology and Applied Movement Analysis.

Component 2 (30%), is concerned with a further three theoretical units of Skill Acquisition, Sports Psychology and Sport and Society.

Component 3 (15%), tests the practical performance and skills of the student as a player or coach.

Component 4 (15%), is a classroom based coursework which includes a performance analysis of students in their sport and personal development programme aimed at improving students’ ability in their sport.

Link to course specification

Assessment

Exam (2.5 hrs)

 Scientific Principles of Physical Education

40% of the

qualification

Exam (2hrs)

Psychological and Social Principles of Physical Education

30% of the

qualification

Practical 

Assessment

Practical Performance

15% of the

qualification

Practical

Assessment

Performance Analysis and Performance Development Programme

15% of the

qualification


 

Enrichment opportunities

As well as the potential to assist with Sixth Form sports teams and House events, students have the opportunity to assist with the development of lower school sport by assisting teachers in lessons or with extra-curricular sport

Student Voice

"PE is a subject not to be taken lightly as there is a lot of varied content in the course such as physiology, psychology, technology and history but this makes it interesting!"

“Studying PE has taught me so much I didn’t previously know about the human body and mind, and how they both work.”

Progression

Studying Physical Education at A level prepares students for a multitude of courses at university and for moving into the world of work. Throughout the course students develop highly transferable skills such as decision making, problem solving, communication skills and familiarity with both quantitative and qualitative data. If students are considering university, the course’s blend of scientific knowledge allows them to access many scientific degrees either with or without a sporting focus.

Courses could include biology, sports science, sports psychology, sports technology, leisure, teaching and sports coaching amongst others and could lead to careers in those areas. Outside of university the course aids students in a wide range of careers including working in the public sector or sporting organisations, leisure management, charities, sports development or sports coaching. 

 

BTEC Sport Extended Certificate

Course Details

BTEC qualifications embody a learner-centred approach to the curriculum, with a flexible, unit-based structure and knowledge applied in project-based assessments. They focus on the holistic development of the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills required to succeed in employment and higher education.

Students are able to choose between two BTEC Sport courses; The National Extended Certificate which is equivalent to one A Level and the National Diploma that is equivalent to two A Levels.

The BTEC level 3 Extended National Certificate in Sport offers a broad basis of study for the sport sector. This qualification is designed to support progression to higher education when taken as part of a programme of study that includes other appropriate BTEC Nationals or A Levels.  It will also support a pathway into the sports industry. 

The course is split into four different units;

Unit 1: Anatomy and Physiology 

Unit 2: Fitness Training and Programming for Health, Sport and Wellbeing

Unit 3: Professional Development in the Sports Industry

Unit 4: Sports Leadership

Assessment

Exam board - Edexcel

External Assessment

Unit 1 & Unit 2

63% of the qualification

Internal Assessment

Unit 3 & Unit 4

37% of the qualification

This qualification is graded using a scale of Pass to Distinction* and is equivalent to one A level.

Course specification

View the full course specification here

Progression

Studying BTEC prepares students for a multitude of courses in further education. The vocational aspect of the courses allows students to venture into the leisure industry, sport coaching, sports development and sporting organisers. The course will allow students to develop their problem solving, decision making and communication skills; needed in all industries.

Enrichment

As well as the potential to assist with Sixth Form sports teams and House events, there is the opportunity to assist with the development of lower school sport by assisting teachers in lessons or with extra-curricular sport.

 

BTEC Sport National Diploma

Course Details

The BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport offers a development on the National Extended Certificate in Sport outlined to the left, covering a wider range of the sport sector. This qualification covers all four units of the National Extended Certificate as detailed to the left plus an additional five units. It is equivalent in size to two A Levels. It has been designed as part of a two-year programme when studied alongside further Level 3 qualifications.

The course is split into nine different units across the two-year programme. Learners will study six mandatory units below (including the four units covered in the National Extended Certificate) as well as three additional units:

Unit 1: Anatomy and Physiology

Unit 2: Fitness Training and Programming for Health, Sport and Wellbeing

Unit 3: Professional Development in the Sports Industry

Unit 4: Sports Leadership

Unit 22: Investigating Business in the Sport and Active Leisure Industry

Unit 23: Skill Acquisition in Sport

Assessment

Exam board - Edexcel

External Assessment

Unit 1, Unit 2 & Unit 22

45% of the

qualification

Internal Assessment

Unit 3, Unit 4 & Unit 23

55% of the qualification

This qualification is graded using a scale of Pass to Distinction* and is equivalent to two A levels.

Course specification

View the full course specification here

Progression

Studying the BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport prepares students for a multitude of sport courses in further education. The vocational aspect of the courses allows students to venture into the leisure industry, sport coaching, sports development and sporting organisers. The course will allow students to develop their problem solving, decision making and communication skills; needed in all industries

Enrichment

As part of the assessment of the course students have the opportunity to lead and coach students in lower year groups. Students may also assist with Sixth Form sports teams, House events and with the development of lower school sport by assisting teachers in lessons or with extra-curricular sport

 

NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Sport and Physical Activity (Sports Coaching)

Course Details

NCFE qualifications are virtually identical to BTEC qualifications. The NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Sport and Physical Activity (Sports Coaching) aims to provide students with specialist knowledge, skills and understanding relating to the sport and physical activity sector, in areas such as exercise, health and lifestyle and preparing for a career in sport. The content for the course has been developed with employers and subject experts to ensure that it is entirely relevant.

Students have to complete the following mandatory units:

  • Exercise, health and lifestyle
  • Preparing for a career in sport and physical activity
  • Sports coaching

Students are then able to choose (subject to feasibility) three optional units to complete such as;

  • Practical team sports
  • Technical and tactical skills in sport
  • Psychology of sports performance
  • Analysis of sports performance
  • Sports nutrition
  • The athlete’s lifestyle
  • Leadership in sport
  • Organising sports events
  • Innovation and enterprise

Assessment

Exam board – NCFE

Students are assessed internally through a portfolio of evidence built up over the two year course. Students’ portfolio of evidence will be externally quality assured. Students will complete tasks for their various units to meet the assessment requirements and will need to sign a declaration at the end of each unit to verify their work has been produced independently. The school will then send a sample of the evidence portfolios to NCFE for external moderation.

Course specification

View the full course specification here

Progression

NCFE qualifications offer the best of sector-based vocational education that are tailored to allow students to either progress to higher education or enter the world of work. They focus on providing a good mix of practical and theoretical learning and offer a variety of pathways for study. Alongside, the two BTEC Sport courses available to study, this qualification provides the perfect platform for launching students into further studies and careers in the world of sports and sports coaching

Enrichment

As well as the potential to assist with Sixth Form sports teams and House events, there is the opportunity to assist with the development of lower school sport by assisting teachers in lessons or with extra-curricular sport.

 

Silver School Mental Health Award