Our aims
Welcome to the PE Department
Physical Education aims to enable pupils to learn through movement so that they develop, extend and refine their skills in a range of movement contexts.
Pupils will take part in a balanced programme of Athletics, Games, Gymnastics and Swimming. School is the most important context for promoting healthy lifestyles in pupils. Active, enjoyable and challenging Physical Education learning experiences encourage pupils to develop:
- positive attitudes to and enjoyment of physical activity;
- an awareness of the positive impact of physical activity on health and wellbeing; and
- positive sporting behaviour and a sense of fair play.
Departmental staff
- Mr J Burke (Head of Department)
- Mr K Mallon
- Miss R Cassidy
- Miss L Kenny (Health and Well Being Officer)
Curriculum
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3. Physical Education is delivered over two lessons lessons per week.
Pupils study a broad and balanced range of activities in the following areas of study:
- Athletics
- Dance
- Games
- Gymnastics
GCSE
GCSE Physical Education
The CCEA GCSE Physical Education specification offers opportunities to develop a healthy, active lifestyle and explore a range of physical activities.
It inspires, motivates and challenges students and enables them to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career pathways.
Students explore health, the active leisure industry, physical fitness, activities and sports through academic and physical challenges.
The three components of the specification are integrated, so students apply what they learn for the written examinations to the practical component, and vice versa.
This qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the Physical Education Area of Learning.
This specification is a linear qualification: students take all the assessment at the end of the course.
The specification has three components:
- Component 1: Factors Underpinning Health and Performance
- Component 2: Developing Performance
- Component 3: Individual Performances in Physical Activities.
Find link to the GCSE PE specification below.
BTEC LEVEL 2 Tech Award – Sport
The BTEC Tech Award in Sport gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through realistic vocational contexts. They will explore the different types and providers of sport and physical activity, as well as the equipment and technology available.
Building on this, they will look at individuals’ differing needs, to gain an understanding of how to increase participation in sport while further developing their knowledge and understanding of anatomy and physiology in a contextualised way.
They will then apply their knowledge and skills to planning and delivering sports activity sessions for participants in practical sessions. In addition, this qualification enables learners to develop sector-specific skills such as sport analysis and sports leadership, and personal skills such as communication, planning, time management and teamwork, through a practical and skills-based approach to learning and assessment.
Find link to the BTEC LEVEL 2 Tech award in Sport below.
AS/A2
At Key Stage 5, the Physical Education Department offers A Level Physical Education and BTEC sport at AS and A3 Level. Students follow the WIEC specification for A level and the Pearson specification for BTEC. At AS and A2 Level, Physical Education is delivered over nine lessons per week.
WJEC A-Level PE
At AS Level, students must successfully complete two modules. A further two modules must be successfully completed at A2 Level
The WIEC AS and A level in physical education provides a coherent combination of four areas of study:
- Exercise physiology, performance analysis and training
- Sport psychology
- Skill acquisition
- Sport and society
Any of the areas of study can be assessed in any of the units. The content can be assessed in units 1 and 3 as part of the written examinations and in units 2 and 4 as part of the analysis and evaluation of performance. The specification enables learners to understand the interrelationships between the areas of study and apply them in a variety of contexts.
AS (2 Units)
A Level Units (AS units plus a further 2 units)
Find link to the WJEC A-Level PE Specification below.
BTEC SPORT
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate-360 Guided Learning Hours
The Pearson BTEC National Extended Certificate in Sport is an Applied General qualification for post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning and who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment in the sport sector. The qualification is equivalent in size to one A Level, and it has been designed as a one-year, full-time study programme, or a full two-year programme when studied alongside a further study.
Learners will study three mandatory units:
- Unit 1 : Anatomy and Physiology (Assessed via a 90-minute external exam)
- Unit 2: Fitness Training and Programming for Health, Sport and Well-being (Assessed by an external task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions)
- Unit 3: Professional Development in the Sports Industry (Coursework-based unit)
Learners will also complete one optional unit from a range which has been designed to support choices in progression to sport courses in higher education, and to link with relevant occupational areas. The PE department has chosen Unit 5: Application of Fitness Testing as the optional unit to complete the Extended Certificate.
Find link to the BTEC Sport Specification below.
Extra-Curricular
The Physical Education Department contributes extensively to the school's extra-curricular provision. Extra-curricular activities include :
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Camogie
- Creative/Modern Dance/Irish dancing
- Cross Country
- Circuit Training
- Gaelic Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Hurling
- Netball
- Outdoor Education
- Rugby
