Key Stage 4

In Year 10, students continue to develop their understanding of physical education through our four core concepts: Fitness for Life, Competence, Competition, and Communication. These principles remain central as pupils engage in a more specialised and challenging curriculum, building on the skills and knowledge acquired throughout Key Stage 3. Through a variety of sports and physical activities, students are encouraged to refine their techniques, analyse performance with greater depth, and take increased ownership of their learning through coaching, officiating, and peer feedback. This progression supports a more independent and reflective approach, promoting lifelong engagement in physical activity.

 
At Key Stage 4, as well as 100 minutes of practical PE, students can choose to take a Cambridge National in Sport Studies.

Within the Sports Studies qualification, students will develop their own performance and how to effectively lead others, as well as gain knowledge about the national sports context. The qualification has two mandatory units and a choice of optional units. The units followed are:

Students explore a range of topical and contemporary issues in sport, such as participation levels and barriers, promoting values and ethical behaviour and how sport contributes to society-beyond simply providing entertainment.

Students try out a range of sports related skills and techniques, including different practice methods for improving both their own performance and that of others. They develop their knowledge of the use of tactics and strategies in both individual and team sporting activities, as well as their understanding of the rules, enabling them to carry out a number of officiating roles within the activities.

Students learn about some of the knowledge, understanding and practical skills required to be an effective sport leader. They put their knowledge into practice by planning and delivering safe and effective sporting activity sessions. At the end of the session, they review their performance.

Students explore the relationship between sport and the media:
How sport uses the media to promote itself and how the media uses sport, to expand and maintain uptake of its products. They look at the differences in sports coverage over time, across a range of media outlets and the effect that media has had on public interest and involvement in sport.

Assessment in Sports Studies is based on three units, internally assessed and one external exam. There is a progress tracker which enables teachers to know which learning objectives to re-visit, to enable students to make good progress. Teachers can identify gaps in students’ learning, and, through effective feedback, students can resolve misconceptions and swiftly develop further knowledge and skills.

• At the end of each topic area, students complete an assessed piece of work which is marked as per the exam board guidance. The marks are placed on the tracker.
• Students are assessed in the ‘Performance and Leadership’ unit and the ‘Media in Sport’ unit.

Students sit two mock exams before their official exam during May/June series.