The Physical Education department is based in the Sports Centre, which includes a large sports hall with sprung wooden floor, a weights and cardiovascular gym, a projectile range with indoor cricket nets, three glass-back squash courts and an aerobics area.
The PE classroom is also situated in the Sports complex. Outside facilities include a full size floodlit astro-turf pitch which provides the base for invasion games and converts to twelve tennis courts in the summer. A 25-metre heated indoor swimming pool is available throughout the year and is fully equipped for competitive swimming, water polo and canoe polo. We also have a professional dance studio located within the Great Hall complex.
Physical Education is usually taught in mixed gender groups to give pupils a broad range of experience in many activities to complement the Games programme. They acquire knowledge and skills in invasion games (soccer, basketball and handball), racket sports (badminton, tennis and squash), athletics, dance, gymnastics including trampolining, health and fitness, outdoor education including orienteering, swimming strokes and survival, volleyball and weight training.
Around 20 Year 11 pupils sit GCSE Physical Education and results have been consistently good. A wide range of theoretical topics are covered which link theory to practical performance. These include Exercise and Training, Anatomy and Physiology, Skill Acquisition, Sports Psychology and Contemporary Issues in Sport (e.g. Drugs, Deviance, Politics and Sociology of Sport), History of Sport, Nutrition for Sport, Effects of Exercise and Training, Personal Performance and Health.
Practical Performance is assessed in three sports; one individual, one team, plus one other. Pupils are also examined on their ability to analyse a performance in one chosen sport, demonstrating their knowledge of rules, techniques, tactics and training methods for that sport. The GCSE course has proved popular, particularly with those who play sport to a high level, and has enabled many of them to obtain a recognised qualification in Sport/PE. The GCSE provides a good foundation for pupils wishing to study A Level PE.
2022 results: 76% of pupils were awarded grade 8 or higher, with 53% of pupils achieving a grade 9.
The GCSE Physical Education specification is divided into three components. Each component is further sub-divided into topic areas and the detailed content associated with those topics. Components 1 and 2 are assessed via written examination papers and are worth 30% each. Component 3 is internally assessed, externally moderated. This is worth 40% of the total marks.
The course allows the development of a very wide range of intellectual, interpersonal and practical skills through the study, participation in and analysis of sport. The course offers a well-balanced diet of arts and sciences, so it can be combined with other subjects from either discipline. Physical Education is now a well-recognised A Level for entry to most university courses as there are elements of all three Sciences (predominantly Biology), History, Geography, Sociology and Psychology within the course. Pupils will learn about how the body functions and performs in action, as well as how the performer’s mind and body interact, and how society influences sport. They will experience a wide variety of activities in which they will improve their understanding and performance, focusing on the two key roles of the performer or coach. Pupils will be required to analyse performance in their chosen sport.
2022 results: 67% of pupils were awarded grade B of higher, with 33% achieving an A or A*.
A Leys Education is one which is built firmly on three main foundations; Academic, Pastoral and Wider Curriculum.
More informationAn overview of the curriculum taught at The Leys.
More informationWe are fortunate at The Leys to have a thriving and diverse Academic Enrichment programme which is growing and developing all the time.
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