Physical Education

Physical Education is becoming one of the most important subjects of our generation, with its power to improve the health and wellbeing of young people. As such, a key aim of the Physical Education department is to develop a strong passion for sport which can manifest in a desire to participate or reach excellence, and in so doing create a habit for life.

As a department, we aim to develop students who are physically literate. We aim to do this by providing a challenging, disciplined and safe environment for high quality teaching and learning. We achieve this through creating an enjoyable and positive atmosphere, where we strive to enable, enhance and enrich students. Through the numerous opportunities that students can access, we aim to develop students into well-rounded individuals that can flourish beyond their time with us, whilst making positive lifestyle choices.


The Facilities

The Physical Education team enjoys extensive facilities outlined below:

Walnut Tree

  • Full size sports hall with cricket nets, trampolines, tennis, football, badminton, table tennis, basketball and netball facilities
  • 2 x 7-a-side Floodlit astro-turf football pitch with 10 x 5-a-side football pitches
  • Sprung wood floor dance studio, including mirrors and a ballet barre
  • Hard surface area for netball, tennis and basketball
  • Extensive playing fields for rugby and football in the winter, which are then devoted to cricket, athletics, softball and rounders in the summer
  • Two outside grass wickets.
  • State of the art fitness suite - cardiovascular machines and resistance equipment

Brooklands Campus

  • Full size sports hall with cricket nets, trampolines, tennis, football, badminton, table tennis, basketball and netball facilities
  • Floodlit 4G all-weather, including 3 x 7-a-side football pitches and 1 adult sized football pitch
  • Sprung wood floor dance studio, including mirrors and a ballet barre.
  • Hard surface area for 6 tennis courts and 4 netball courts.
  • Extensive playing fields for rugby and football in the winter, which are then devoted to cricket, athletics, softball and rounders in the summer, including a hammer/discus throwing cage
  • Outside grass wicket.

Key Stage 3

At KS3 all students follow a single gender core curriculum which is differentiated from the start to cater for the needs of all. The aim of this is to ensure that students are provided with positive, memorable experiences regardless of their motivations or personalities.

Sports covered include: badminton, football, rugby, netball, table tennis, basketball, athletics, rounders, cricket, fitness, dodgeball and outdoor education.

Students are assessed on their levels of physical literacy, knowledge of rules and techniques, fitness and analysis of the performance of peers.

Students in years 7 and 8 are involved in a healthy living rotation; this includes them learning to cook healthy and nutritious meals (such as breakfast bars, vegetable curry and bruschetta). The aim of this is that they understand the basics of how a balanced diet can supplement a healthy lifestyle.

Throughout both years students are offered the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of extracurricular activities before school, at lunchtime and after school. As a PE department we offer a number of clubs on each day so students can choose which sport they would like to take up further.


Key Stage 4 - Core

All students in KS4 will have a minimum of 1 hour of PE per week with Year 9 students receiving 2 hours of PE per week.

Student are split into gender groups to differentiate for the needs of all students, thus providing an atmosphere that encourages positive experiences within Physical Education and developing positive habits for adulthood. Students will continue to experience various activities covered in KS3.

PE Kit policy

In the unlikely event that your son/ daughter is unable to participate practically in a PE lesson, we ask that they still bring their PE kit to change into. There are many other roles that your son/daughter can complete during the lesson to ensure a fully inclusive subject.  Furthermore, the weather often means that by bringing their kit, their school uniform can remain dry for the remainder of the school day.  Thank you for your support on this matter.


Key Stage 4 - Assessed

The students in Year 9 have recently moved on to the Cambridge National Award for Sports Science. Students will continue to study this qualification until the end of Year 11. The qualification is equivalent to one GCSE.

The final grade for the qualification is based on a structure of Distinction* at Level 2 (*2), Distinction at Level 2 (D2), Merit at Level 2 (M2), Pass at Level 2 (P2), Distinction at Level 1 (D1), Merit at Level 1 (M1), Pass at Level 1 (P1) or Not Yet Achieved.

Cambridge National Award for sports science

Students cover 4 units:

  • Unit RO46 – Technology in Sport in year 9
  • Unit RO42 – Applying principles of training in year 10
  • Unit RO43 – The body’s response to physical activity in year 10
  • Unit RO41 – Reducing the risk of sports injuries in year 11

Students in Years 10 and 11 are continuing to study the BTEC First Award in Sport. The qualification is equivalent to one GCSE.

BTEC First Award In Sport

Students cover 4 units:

  • Unit 2 - Practical Sports Performance in year 9
  • Unit 6 - Leading Sports Activities in year 10
  • Unit 3 - The Mind and Sports Performance in year 10
  • Unit 1 - Fitness for Sport and Exercise (Externally Assessed through Online Examination) in Year 11

This is an excellent course for students who are interested in sport as a profession or working within the sports industry in professions including the fitness industry, sports coaching, leisure centre management and the police.

The course will be delivered practically and coursework will be submitted throughout the year accounting for 75% of a student’s total grade. The Fitness for Sport and Exercise unit is an online test that is taken in Year 11.

As part of the Unit 6 Leading Sports Activities, students will work with local primary schools and Year 7 groups to deliver sports activities and run partnership events.

If you would like further information, please contact Mr C Harris at feedback@mket.org.uk


Key Stage 5

At Year 12 the PE Department offer the Level 3 Cambridge Technical, Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity. This qualification is the equivalent to 3 A-levels. Over the 2 years’ students cover eleven units, focusing on many aspects of sport and exercise. The units students cover are as follows:

Unit 2: Sports Coaching and Activity Leadership

Unit 17: Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation

Unit 18: Practical Skills in Sport and Physical Activities

Unit 5: Performance Analysis in Sport and Exercise

Unit 11 Physical Activity for Specific Groups

Unit 13: Health and Fitness Testing for Sport and Exercise

Unit 8: Organisation of Sports Events

Unit 19: Sport and Exercise Psychology

*Unit 1 : Body Systems and the Effects of Physical Activity

*Unit 3: Sports Organisation and Development

*Unit 4: Working Safely in Sport, Exercise and Leisure

(* denotes an exam unit, all exam units are studied in Year 13)

Our current Year 13 cohort are studying the BTEC National Subsidiary Diploma in Sport & Exercise Science. This qualification is the equivalent to 2 A-levels. Over the 2 years’ students cover eight units, focusing on many aspects of sport and exercise. The units the students cover are as follows:

*Sport and Exercise Physiology

*Functional Anatomy

*Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology

Field and Labarotory Based Fitness Testing

Coaching for Performance and Exercise

Biomechanics in Sport

Applied Research Methods in Sport

Specialised Fitness Training

(* denotes an exam unit)

The current Year 13 students are the final cohort to complete this course.


Extra-curricular clubs

The PE team run a vast and varied extra-curricular programme ranging from climbing to dodgeball, football and fitness.

All students are welcome before, during and after school, whether purely for recreational purposes or to play as part of the school team.

The clubs on offer usually change on a termly basis and are dependent on what competitions we have coming up as a school.

As a department, we understand and value the importance of regular physical activity and therefore we award our students for attending clubs with achievement points that can be exchanged for prizes as part of the schools’ reward scheme.

Details of all our clubs can be found on the extra-curricular board in the PE department or via the link (https://www.waltonhigh.org.uk/clubs-timetable)