Physical Education

"Sport is a great domain for human achievement and satisfaction"

Physical Education is an integral part of life at Bootham and it is in fact the only compulsory subject for all our pupils. Lessons cover a wide variety of team and individual pursuits, including major winter team games (football and basketball - boys, hockey and netball - girls), badminton, swimming, orienteering, dance, gymnastics, health education, cross country as well as tennis, cricket (boys), rounders (girls) and athletics in the summer. There is also is an outdoor education programme in the curriculum which includes residential visits, culminating with a week at Bewerley Park .The older pupils have an option system which includes all the major team games, as well as, climbing, swimming, squash, badminton, yoga and making use of a local fitness gym.

 

We also offer GCSE and A Level PE and follow the AQA specifications for both. At GCSE, our students are given exciting opportunities to lead a healthy and active lifestyle by choosing from a variety of roles and activities in which to participate in physical activity. The content of the course enables our students to enjoy and understand the benefits of exercise and it also provides a route to A Level and other related career opportunities. We follow the full course which includes a written paper worth 40% of the total mark and four assessments in a practical context which makes up the remaining 60%. Pupils do not have to excel practically as a performer for all four activities, as long as they have a genuine interest in sport. They could, for instance, coach and officiate tennis for two of their activities.

At AS and A2 the syllabus builds on the experience from GCSE to enhance their knowledge and increase their understanding of the factors that affect performance and participation in physical education. The course addresses current contemporary topics such as technology and the increasing commercialism of sport. It also contains a practical aspect with our pupils choosing a practical specialism and an official role. The ratio of marks is 60% of the AS (30% of the A2) for a two hour written paper and 40% (20% for the A2) for the practical and evaluation part of the course.

We believe that it is important to cater for the individual and whilst it is impossible to cover all sports; we offer breadth within the curriculum in order to stimulate interest and enjoyment. We also offer an extensive extra-curricular programme and there is a full fixture list in all the major sports against local state schools as well as other independent schools and internally inter- house competitions are keenly contested. Our pupils have achieved success both individually and in teams and have gained district, county and national honours.

Physical Education is an important part of a student's education. They can learn new skills in an enjoyable environment and meet their own potential in their chosen activity, as well as develop the skills of cooperation, support and team work and challenge their personal goals and competitive instincts. In the modern world, it is vital that our students take with them lifelong skills to help them live a healthy and active lifestyle and here, at Bootham, the PE department plays a pivotal role.