Physical Education

Heads of Department

Phil Marwood
Head of Boys’ PE

Joanne Middleton
Head of Girls’ PE

Please email Mr Marwood, Head of Boys PE or email Miss Middleton, Head of Girls PE if you wish to make an enquiry about physical education.

Curriculum Time
All pupils receive two hours a week of physical education in the curriculum, Year 11 receive an hour and a half. In Year 9 pupils have the opportunity to continue with physical education as a GCSE option subject. This is in addition to the two hours of core PE which all pupils receive. Currently there are more than 50 GCSE pupil taking physical education at Ryedale School, receiving five hours of lessons per fortnight in addition to their core PE lessons.

Homework
Homework is set routinely for all Year 9, 10 and 11 GCSE physical education lessons as part of the school Homework Timetable. Pupils keep a record of the homework in their planners. Physical education homework is not set for Key Stage 3 students.

Class Groupings

Pupils have two hours of PE per week, taught in single sex groups.

GCSE Syllabus

We follow AQA 4890 GCSE Physical Education Syllabus. There is only one tier of entry in physical education. The course is divided into two distinct areas: Unit 1 Knowledge and understanding for the active participant (40%), Unit 2 The active participant (40%). Unit 1 is the theory part of the course which is examined at the end of Year 11. Unit 2 is controlled assessment units in three practical activities, which the pupils chose to be assessed in.

GCSE PE practical lessons are taught in single sex groups.
GCSE PE theory is taught in mixed sex ability groups.

Facilities

Indoors:

Gymnasium (with climbing wall)
Fitness Suite

The school hall is also used in inclement weather

Outdoors:

2 Football pitches
2 Hockey pitches
400m grass Athletics track
3 Rounders pitches
2 cricket pitches (artificial wicket)
2 Outdoor cricket nets
4 tennis courts
3 Netball courts

Departmental Ethos

The curriculum in Year 7-9 is fundamentally about enjoying physical education through performing and working hard to improve skills and techniques, this provides an excellent platform for GCSE physical education.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

This is an integral and important part of the department’s work. The department offers an extensive range of extra curricular activities including lunchtime and after school practices and fixtures. House match competitions run throughout the year, taking place through twenty three different sports. The results go towards the Halifax trophy which is presented at the end of the Easter term. School teams are successful at District, County and National Level. Pupils respond to extra curricular opportunities extremely positively.