PE and Games

The principle aim of the Physical Education Department is to ensure that every pupil finds an activity that they will continue to be actively involved in during their time at Tiffin and that they will continue to be involved in once they have left. To facilitate this we offer a broad curriculum combining team games with individual pursuits, alongside an extensive extra-curricular programme in many of these activities. Pupils’ health, mental well-being including self-esteem and ability to socialise, can all be fostered through Physical Education. The spirit of fair-play, politeness, respect and hard work are also recognised as central to the success of a pupil’s participation in Physical Education.

Pupils receive a single lesson of PE and a double lesson of Games per week at KS3. In PE they are grouped in their form and in Games are selected by ability into squads. Many opportunities to participate in physical activities exist within the school through the extra-curricular programme and all pupils are encouraged to join them. The KS3 curriculum is designed to allow our pupils to compete against other schools in a number of activities as well as to give them a broad range of experiences. Increasingly the pupils will be given opportunities to lead parts of sessions both in terms of officiating and organisation.

At KS4 and KS5 the central purpose of Physical Education remains to develop health, physical skills and personal and social qualities through physical activity. Pupils will be offered a range of activities which will lead to improved performance, personal achievement, understanding and increased knowledge. In Years 10 and 11 Pupils receive a single lesson of PE and a double lesson of Games per week.At KS5 pupils receive one double period of Games per week. Greater options in Year 11 and the Sixth Form allow pupils to select activities that they are interested in, increasing the chances that they will continue in these activities beyond their school days. There is a wide option choice which uses facilities both at the school and in the surrounding areas.

KS4 GCSE
The PE course integrates the theoretical and practical elements of physical activity. The purpose is to provide opportunities for boys to attain a high level of personal skill in selected sporting activities. They should also develop an understanding of human performance through the knowledge of the effects of physical activity based on the study of the structure and functioning of the body, and an awareness of how Social and Cultural factors affect performance and participation. The examination is divided between the practical and the theoretical, with four assessments of individual performances in sporting activities. As 60% of the marks are related to practical abilities, excellent practical skills and a high level of physical fitness are essential to attain a good grade. Involvement in inter-school competitive sporting activity is also necessary to attain a good grade and therefore we expect all students to participate in extra-curricular school sport throughout the year.

KS5 A LEVEL
The AQA Advanced Level in Sport and Physical Education is designed to provide a deeper understanding of Sporting Activity.
It aims to develop an appreciation of the biomechanical, physiological and psychological principles that govern performance in sport. It also requires knowledge of the socio-economic and historical development of organised Sport in the United Kingdom and further a field.

The course aims to enable candidates to know about, understand and analyse the major concepts and principles underlying sport and physical education, develop an understanding of the historical, physical, social, cultural and psychological factors which influence it and encourage the understanding of theoretical principles through practical examples.