Physical Education - PE & Sport

Physical Education at our academy is all about helping students grow into confident, active and healthy young people.

What makes PE here truly special is the variety of high‑quality experiences we offer, supported by excellent facilities and passionate staff who are dedicated to helping every student succeed.  
 
We focus not just on physical skills, but also on teamwork, resilience, leadership, and enjoying being active. Whether students are new to a sport or already experienced, our curriculum gives everyone the chance to shine, challenge themselves, and discover activities they genuinely enjoy.

PE at our academy helps students build healthy habits for life, all in a supportive and encouraging environment. 

"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does." Nelson Mandela  

In Year 7, students take part in a wide range of exciting activities designed to build confidence and develop fundamental skills across different sports. They learn the core techniques of gymnastics, improving balance, control, and body awareness. Swimming lessons help students grow in water confidence and safety, while also improving stamina and technique. Team sports like basketball and football teach important attacking and defending skills, communication, and how to work well with others. Students also experience racket sports such as tennis, where they develop coordination, agility, and the ability to out‑think an opponent. In athletics, they are introduced to running, jumping, and throwing events, learning how to improve their personal performance. Our striking activities (cricket, rounders and softball) help students develop precision, timing, and teamwork through batting, bowling, pitching and fielding drills. 

In Year 8 our PE curriculum builds on the strong foundations established in Year 7, with a growing focus on mastery, independence, and confidence. Students revisit a wide range of sports, developing greater control, consistency, and understanding as they refine the skills they have already learned. Lessons are structured to help students perform with increasing confidence across all activities and continue progressing at their own pace. 

By Year 9, students take more ownership of their learning and begin to develop key leadership skills. They lead warm‑ups, take on team roles, support peers, and make tactical decisions during practical sessions. These opportunities encourage initiative, teamwork, and communication – helping students grow not only as young athletes but as responsible, positive members of our academy community. This strong grounding prepares them confidently for the challenges and opportunities of Key Stage 4. 

Throughout their PE journey, students develop a strong commitment to leading a healthy, active lifestyle, supported by a rich understanding of a wide range of sporting activities. As they progress, they benefit from access to high‑quality facilities – including our local leisure centre – which enhances their experience and enables them to explore different forms of physical activity beyond the school site. 

As students enter Year 10 and 11, they continue to strengthen their commitment to leading a healthy, active lifestyle, supported by a broad understanding of a wide range of sporting activities. At this stage, they gain greater independence and begin to make more informed choices about the activities they take part in, learning how to train effectively and take responsibility for their own physical development. Their experience is further enriched through access to high‑quality facilities – both within the academy and through our partnership with the local leisure centre – giving them opportunities to explore different forms of physical activity beyond the school site. This increased autonomy helps students grow in confidence, prepares them for the demands of Key Stage 4, and supports them in becoming motivated, responsible participants in sport and physical activity. 

By the time students reach Year 11, they enjoy greater autonomy and ownership over their learning. They have more freedom to choose activities that suit their interests, strengths, and personal goals, allowing them to take greater responsibility for their physical development. This increased choice not only helps students stay motivated and engaged, but also empowers them to build positive, lifelong habits around health, fitness, and well‑being. 

Students can progress onto our BTEC Level 3 Sport course at Sixth Form, where they explore sport in greater depth. They study engaging topics such as Anatomy and Physiology, Sports Leadership, and Outdoor Adventure Activities.  

We are incredibly proud of our dedicated basketball and football performance pathway, available to Sixth Form students alongside their academic studies. This pathway provides elite‑level coaching, competitive fixtures, and access to specialist training programmes within our academy teams. Students can build high‑level performance profiles that create genuine routes to scholarships in America, Canada, European teams, and domestic development programmes. This pathway not only supports talented athletes in achieving their sporting goals but also strengthens the bridge between our academy and the wider world of professional and collegiate sport. 

Alongside curriculum PE, our vibrant extra‑curricular programme offers further opportunities for students to develop and compete, with teams representing the academy in borough and Harris competitions across various sports (futsal, basketball, athletics and cricket) – where our girls’ teams have enjoyed outstanding success. This rich combination of curriculum, competition, and extra‑curricular opportunity supports students at every stage of their PE journey, helping them grow in confidence, leadership, and motivation both in sport and in school life. 

With expert support and excellent facilities, students leave confident, skilled, and ready for the next step in their sporting journey.