Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Core PE lessons will allow students to further develop their skills and tactical knowledge base in the majority of activities covered during Key Stage 3. Students can pick from 3 options each half term – an all boys, all girls and mixed option. The curriculum at Key Stage 4 is extremely varied and is all inclusive.

GCSE Physical Education is also available to students and is broken down as follows:

Syllabus followed: OCR

  • This course builds upon knowledge and skills learned through Physical Education in KS3

It is intended to help the students:

  • Develop a deeper understanding of sports rules, tactics and techniques
  • Develop an understanding of the theory of sports science
  • Develop and improve their own personal performance

The lesson times will be separated into practical and theory sessions. Homework is set throughout the duration of the course and is an important integral part of the syllabus. It is also vital that students make a regular commitment to our extra-curricular programme, particularly in their chosen assessment activities and achieve a good level of ability in all sports used for moderation.

Each candidate must select 3 activities from each of the groups given below:

  • Team sport
  • Individual sport
  • A 2nd team or individual sport

If a student participates in a sport to a high standard out of school this can be used if it is in the OCR sports framework for assessment, however this has been significantly reduced.

Students are also required to demonstrate their ability to analyse performance in their chosen activities.

The GCSE assessment will be based as follows:

Written examination: 1 hour

30% of the qualification—60 marks

  • Topic 1: Applied anatomy and physiology
  • Topic 2: Movement analysis
  • Topic 3: Physical training
  • Topic 4: Use of data


Unit 2: Health and Performance

Written examination: 1 hour
30% of the qualification—60 marks

  • Topic 1: Health, fitness and well-being
  • Topic 2: Sport psychology
  • Topic 3: Socio-cultural influences
  • Topic 4: Use of data


Unit 3: Practical Performance

30% of the qualification – 60 marks (20 marks per activity)

  • Skills during individual and team activities & General performance skills

The assessment consists of students completing three physical activities from a set list.

One must be a team activity—One must be an individual activity. The final activity can be a free choice.


Unit 4: Analysis of Performance (AEP)

10% of the qualification—20 marks

  • Aim and planning analysis
  • Carrying out and monitoring a training programme
  • Evaluation of performance