PHYSICAL EDUCATION PE CORE

Course Overview / Introduction

At Brakenhale, PE is a government requirement for all students at Key Stage 4. Our program is designed to give you choice, independence, and challenge, focusing entirely on your well-being—giving you a vital break from your academic studies to rebalance your body and mind.

At Brakenhale, PE develops the whole child—physically, socially, and cognitively—equipping pupils with the skills, knowledge, and values for lifelong engagement in sport, health, and wellbeing. Leadership, decision-making, teamwork, and strategic thinking are central, enabling pupils to make meaningful contributions in PE and beyond.

Curriculum Statement: “To inspire pupils to develop the skills, confidence, and resilience that foster a lifelong habit of sporting participation, through collaboration, leadership, and strategic thinking in PE.”

What will you study?

The Big Ideas – ME in PE

Core PE allows you to stay active in the activities you enjoy for the whole year. You will consolidate the skills you learned in KS3 through gameplay and tournaments, focusing on four key pillars:

• Physical Me: Develop core and advanced skills across a wide range of sports (breadth and depth), applying technique, tactics, and personal challenge.

• Leading Me: Build leadership and responsibility through Sport Education roles such as officiating, captaining, coaching, and leading warm-ups.

• Social Me: Develop teamwork, communication, and collaboration in lessons, extracurricular clubs, and competitive fixtures, demonstrating resilience, respect, and sportsmanship.

• Thinking Me: Develop decision-making, tactical understanding, and problem-solving, applying these skills in practical, live-game contexts.

Bring your Brakenhale PE kit every lesson. The usual KS3 rules and sanctions apply.  Your teacher will select sports based on location and student voice, ensuring the KS4 PE curriculum is bespoke and tailor-made for your class.

How is the course assessed?

There are no written exams! Because this is about your health, leadership, and participation, you are assessed against two main themes:

1. Attitude to Learning (ATL): Your effort, focus, and preparation.

2. Engagement in Lesson: Your willingness to lead, officiate, and participate actively.

Our goal is to ensure a valid and relevant program of activities that inspires an active lifestyle and embeds a love and passion for lifelong activity.

What will you gain from this course?

The "Feel Good" Factor: You’ll learn how to use exercise as a tool to manage stress and anxiety. By the time you reach Year 11, having a scheduled time to "switch off" the brain and "switch on" the body becomes vital for your mental health.

Physical Literacy: You aren't just playing; you are learning how to move efficiently. This confidence means that when you leave school, you’ll feel comfortable joining a local gym, a 5-a-side team, or a yoga class.

A "High-Performance" Mindset: Regular activity improves sleep and brain function. By staying active in Core PE, you are actually helping your brain perform better in your other GCSE subjects.

What does this lead to?

Healthy Foundations: You are significantly less likely to develop long-term health issues later in life if you maintain the "habit of participation" now.

Social Connections: Sport is the ultimate social lubricant. Whether at university or in a new job, being able to participate in physical activity is the fastest way to make friends and build a community.

Career Resilience: Modern employers look for people who know how to look after themselves. Showing that you value your well-being through sport proves you have the discipline and self-care required for high-pressure careers.

Staff Contact:

Mr CD Ratsakatika
Head of PE