Physical Education

Text

Text

Mission Statement: Move. Inspire. Thrive.

Physical Education and School Sports play a vital role at Wildern School. We pride ourselves on offering an inclusive, high-quality curricular and extra-curricular experience where every student has the opportunity to succeed, progress, and find meaningful value.

Through a diverse range of practical activities, our department nurtures students' physical, emotional, and social skills. We strive to foster an enduring enjoyment of PE, a fierce passion for overcoming challenges with creativity, and a commitment to excellence. Our goal is to equip students for modern Britain—ensuring they enter the wider world as confident, competent, and capable individuals ready to pursue their dreams.

Expanders

Expanders

  • Key Stage 3

    We are proud to deliver an innovative, concept-based curriculum across Key Stage 3. Rather than focusing solely on sport-specific skills, our curriculum teaches fundamental concepts that students can apply to any sporting pursuit and their wider lives. These same skills apply across activities within the entire key stage.

    In this model, the sport is not the final destination; it is the vehicle used to deliver relevant, meaningful learning. Educational research into Stern’s Transfer Learning Mental Model (Stern, J., et al., 2021) demonstrates that this approach helps students make stronger connections to concepts, enabling them to apply them to diverse, real-world situations.

     

    The Core Concepts of Key Stage 3 PE

    Concept:

    Application:

    Overcoming Opponents

    Basketball, Handball, Football, Rugby, Hockey

    Fit 4 Life

    Fitness Classes, Fitness Suite Sessions, Outdoor Fitness Sessions

    Aesthetic Technique & Performance

    Gymnastics, Dance, Athletics, Synchronised Swimming

    Swimming & Water safety

    Swimming, Personal Survival, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo

    Athletics and Outdoor Adventurous Education

    Track & Field, Cross Country, Orienteers, Indoor Caving, Problem Solving

    Striking, Fielding and Net Games

    Table Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton, Cricket, Tennis, Rounders

     

     

    The Wildern Games

    During the spring term Key Stage 3 students participate in the Wildern Games. Utilising a Sports Education model, this initiative focuses on developing six key character traits essential for sports and wider school life:

    • Organisation

    • Fair Play & Sportsmanship

    • Teamwork

    • Resilience

    • Leadership

    • Initiative

  • Key Stage 4

    In Key Stage 4, we transition away from the concept-based curriculum to give students a greater level of ownership over their learning. To foster a lifelong love of physical activity, students select a tailored PE Pathway that best matches their interests and goals.

    While these pathways still offer excellent breadth and diversity, personal selection allows students to acquire deeper skills, enhance their performance, and develop a lasting commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle.

     

    Examination Pathway - GCSE Physical Education

    For students wishing to pursue PE academically, we offer a unique three-year examination structure starting in Year 9.

    Students commence Year 9 studying AQA GCSE Physical Education. This will be a blend of practical assessments and theoretical topics (Physical Training & Applied Anatomy and Physiology) that are examined throughout the year but formally in the Year 9 exam. The majority of students will continue to study GCSE PE into Year 10 & 11. 

    Theoretic assessment:

    Exam Paper 1 (30%):

    • Applied Anatomy & Physiology

    • Movement Analysis

    • Physical Training

    Exam Paper 2 (30%):

    • Sports Psychology

    • Socio-cultural influences in Sport

    • Health, Fitness & Wellbeing

    Practical assessment:

    • Individual Sport (10%)

    • Team Sport (10%)

    • Individual or Team Sport (10%)

    • Analysis & Evaluation of Performance (10%) 

     

    Alternative Pathway - BTEC Tech Level 2 in Sport

    In some circumstances, students may be offered an alternative pathway in Year 10 & 11. Students who specialise in a single sport or have a passion for coaching and officiating may continue the examination pathway but study BTEC Level 2 in Sport. This requires the knowledge gained in Year 9 but is applied to synoptic assessments provided by the exam board and an alternative approach to practical assessment.
Text

Text

ExtraCurricular Activities & Trips

Our department works tirelessly to provide a vibrant extra-curricular program open to all students.

At Wildern School, we do not use the word "trial" for club attendance. While competitive team selection naturally takes place for local, regional, and national fixtures, our clubs remain fully inclusive so that everyone can participate regardless of team placement.

We rotate our extra-curricular timetable every half-term to offer maximum variety. We run an average of 12+ clubs per week, with timetables published in the PE Department and on Google Classroom.

Our year-round club offerings include, but are not limited to: 

  • Athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Cricket, and Tennis

  • Dance and Gymnastics

  • Fitness Classes and Table Tennis

  • Rounders and Softball

  • Handball, Hockey, and Netball

  • Boys & Girls Representative Teams for Football, Basketball, Netball, Athletics and Cricket.

 

Fixtures and Travel

Beyond weekly clubs, we compete extensively in prestigious local, regional, and national competitions. We also offer fantastic travel opportunities, including our highly successful annual ski trip to Austria and our bi-annual Sports Tour.

 

Sports Leaders Programme

In Year 9, students can apply to join our prestigious Sports Leaders Programme. This initiative equips young leaders with the coaching, mentoring, and leadership skills required to run physical activity sessions.

Our Ambassadors work in close conjunction with our successful Primary School Sports Partnership, hosting hundreds of future Wildern students during primary sports festivals.  

 

State-of-the-Art Facilities

We are incredibly fortunate to boast outstanding sporting facilities. These spaces serve our students during the school day and are vibrant hubs for the local community during evenings and weekends:

  • Indoor Spaces: Main Sports Hall, Gymnasium, Multi-Use Hall, and a fully equipped Health and Fitness Suite.

  • Aquatics: Main Swimming Pool and a dedicated Learner Pool.

  • Outdoor Courts & Pitches: Floodlit M.U.G.A. (Multi-Use Games Area) with a synthetic turf surface, Astro-turf Hockey Pitch, 4 Netball courts and 11-aside and 9-aside Football Pitches. 

  • Summer Sports Layout: 6 Tennis/Pickleball Courts, 3 Rounders Pitches, and a 400m Athletics track.

Gallery

Gallery