P.E. Department

Physical Education is very much about providing for individuals in a variety of enjoyable, demanding and rewarding challenges through which physical skills, knowledge and understanding can be developed.

Physical Education has a unique contribution to make to the total education of the individual, a learning process that will start early in the life of the child and which will hopefully continue to provide a healthy and active lifestyle in adulthood.

Departmental Aims

1. The aim of Physical Education is to provide appropriate opportunities and experiences for individuals to achieve their optimum potential.
2. Physical Education is primarily concerned with physical capabilities but the associated aspects of knowledge and understanding are also vital components for all children.
3. Additionally the development of personal skills within a social setting can be enhanced by participating in an appropriate and sensitively designed Physical Education programme.
4. Planning, performing and evaluating therefore are important components which have to be pursued according to each individual’s needs and strengths.

Departments Objectives

It is to be acknowledge that the aim of Physical Education is to encompass enjoyment and satisfaction and thereby encourage a lifelong commitment to an active and healthy lifestyle.

Through delivery of the Northern Ireland Curriculum each pupil will be given the opportunity to develop;

• knowledge, understanding and skills in a range of activities

o practise, refine and develop skills and techniques

o experience, monitor and understand a range of short-term effects of exercise on the body systems

o monitor and evaluate their own activity levels over a period of time and plan how they can fulfil the activity recommendations for health

o develop their knowledge of safe practices and procedures when taking part in sport and physical activity

o develop the skills and capabilities required to analyse and improve their own and others’ work

o develop the skills and capabilities required to work effectively with others in tasks which require co-operation, creativity, problem solving, planning and team work.

• as individuals

o Make decisions about what they want to achieve and how to improve the quality of their work,

o Develop positive relationships and respect for the differing capabilities

o Experience and evaluate the health and fitness benefits of a range of different physical activities

o Develop positive sporting behaviour and a sense of fair play

o Plan, perform and evaluate their commitment to a personal activity programme

o Explore the aesthetic quality of movement, dedication, perseverance and strength of human spirit.

• as contributors to society

o Work with others to solve problems in a range of practical situations
o Explore issues related to Cultural understanding, Media and Ethical Awareness

• as contributors to the economy and environment

o explore issues related to Economic Awareness
o explore issues related to Education for Sustainable Development

At Foyle College we offer WJEC Eduqas GCSE PE.

The WJEC Eduqas GCSE Physical Education specification is broad, coherent and practical, designed to encourage learners to be inspired, motivated and challenged by the subject and enable them to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career pathways. Through studying GCSE Physical Education learners will acquire the knowledge, understanding, skills and values to develop and maintain their performance in physical activities and understand the benefits to health, fitness and well-being. Learners will develop theoretical knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin physical activity and sport and use this knowledge to improve performance.

At Foyle College we offer WJEC A-level PE. WJEC AS and A level in physical education will enable learners to:

• develop theoretical knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin physical activity and sport and use this knowledge to improve performance
• understand how physiological and psychological states affect performance
• understand the key socio-cultural factors that influence people’s involvement in physical activity and sport

• understand the role of technology in physical activity and sport
• refine their ability to perform effectively in physical activity and sport by developing skills and techniques and selecting and using tactics, strategies and/or compositional ideas

• develop their ability to analyse and evaluate to improve performance
• understand the contribution which physical activity makes to health and fitness
• improve as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with curious and enquiring minds.