PHYSICAL EDUCATION - What You Will Learn

Key Stage 3

The following page gives details about what pupils will learn at Key Stage 3 from Year 7 to Year 9. For Key Stage 4 information click on the Key Stage 4 image in the top right corner.

Number of lessons: 2 lessons (2 hours)

More detailed information on the programme of study: National Curriculum Online

Aims and Purposes of PE

PE offers opportunities for pupils to:

• become skillful and intelligent performers;
• acquire and develop skills, performing with increasing physical competence and confidence, in a range of physical activities and contexts;
• learn how to select and apply skills, tactics and compositional ideas to suit activities that need different approaches and ways of thinking;
• develop their ideas in a creative way;
• set targets for themselves and compete against others, individually and as team members;
• understand what it takes to persevere, succeed and acknowledge others' success;
• respond to a variety of challenges in a range of physical contexts and environments;
• take the initiative, lead activity and focus on improving aspects of their own performance;
• discover their own aptitudes and preferences for different activities;
• make informed decisions about the importance of exercise in their lives;
• develop positive attitudes to participation in physical activity.

During key stage 3, pupils become more expert in their skills and techniques, and learn how to apply them in different activities. They start to understand what makes an effective performance and how to apply these principles to their own and others' work. They learn to take the initiative and make decisions for themselves about what to do to improve performance. They start to identify the types of activity they prefer, and take a variety of roles, such as leader and official.

The programme of study identifies six areas of activity:

• dance activities;
• games activities;
• gymnastic activities;
• swimming activities and water safety;
• athletic activities;
• outdoor and adventurous activities.

During key stage 3, pupils should be taught the knowledge, skills and understanding through four areas of activity. These should include:

• games activities;
• either (or both) of dance activities or gymnastic activities;
• two (or one, as appropriate) of the following: swimming activities and water safety; athletic activities; outdoor and adventurous activities.

Activities at Boldon School

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