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Physical Education & Games

INTRODUCTION TO THE DEPARTMENT 

Physical Education, school sport and outdoor education are delivered as integral components of pupils’ physical, mental and personal development. The department aims to ensure that all students participate in high-quality physical activity which develops physical literacy, resilience, confidence and teamwork, while also supporting emotional wellbeing and academic success. 

Through a broad and balanced programme, pupils experience meaningful challenge across curriculum PE, competitive and recreational sport, and structured outdoor education. Students are encouraged to develop lifelong habits of physical activity while gaining an understanding of how sport and exercise contribute to health, wellbeing and personal development. 

The department seeks to create an environment where participation, enjoyment and performance are equally valued. Pupils are encouraged to challenge themselves, develop leadership and collaboration skills, and learn to respond constructively to both success and setback. 

RECOMMENDED READING LIST: 

KEY STAGE 3 

  • You Are Awesome – Matthew Syed 
  • The Boy Who Biked the World – Alastair Humphreys 
  • The Wonder of the Human Body – Anna Claybourne 
  • The Girl Who Rowed the Ocean – Alastair Humphreys 
  • Sportopedia – Adam Skinner & Damien Weighill 
  • The Young Champion’s Mind – Jim Afremow 

KEY STAGE 4 

  • Bounce – Matthew Syed 
  • The Anatomy of Sports Injuries – Brad Walker 
  • Peak – Anders Ericsson & Robert Pool 
  • What Doesn’t Kill Us – Scott Carney 
  • Sports Psychology – John Perry 
  • Game Changer – Fergus Connolly 

KEY STAGE 5 

  • The Sports Gene – David Epstein 
  • Legacy – James Kerr 
  • High‑Performance Training for Sports – Joyce & Lewindon 
  • The Science of Running – Steve Magness 
  • Skill Acquisition in Sport – James & Ford 
  • Sociology of Sport and Social Theory – Earl Smith 

 

EXTRA AND SUPER-CURRICULAR SPORT:  

School sport operates as a central pillar of pupils’ personal development, complementing curriculum PE through a broad and ambitious programme of competitive and recreational opportunities. Pupils participate in fixtures across a wide range of sports at local, regional and national levels, reflecting the school’s long established sporting tradition and commitment to providing inclusive, challenging and enriching physical activity experiences. More information about school sport can be found at BWS Sport. 

A strong Saturday rugby programme offers regular competition against leading state and independent schools, giving pupils access to highquality opposition and a culture that promotes teamwork, discipline, resilience and collective responsibility. These experiences build confidence and teach pupils to perform under pressure while developing soft skills such as communication, leadership and respect.  

Sport also plays an important role in character development. Pupils learn to embrace challenge, respond positively to success and disappointment, and contribute to a team culture built on humility, enjoyment, respect, resilience and discipline. 

Outdoor education is embedded through BWS Adventure, which provides progressively structured experiences designed to cultivate independence, resilience and problem-solving in demanding environments. Activities span teambuilding, survival skills, residential expeditions and navigational challenges, enabling pupils to develop confidence and self-sufficiency while strengthening their connection to the outdoors. 

 

Learning by Key Stage 

KS3: 

Pupils develop competence across invasion games, net and wall games, gymnastics, athletics, outdoor activities, dance and striking/fielding sports. Learning includes evaluation, teamwork, safe practice and an understanding of the long-term health benefits of physical activity. All students have PE lessons, in which they are taught the physical literacy, movement skills and theoretical principles that underpin effective performance, and games lessons, wherein these skills are applied and developed through competitive team sports. 

KS4: 

Games 

All students continue to participate in games lessons, which remain a core part of the school curriculum and provide opportunities for physical activity, teamwork, competition and leadership beyond the examination classroom. These sessions allow students to maintain active lifestyles, represent the school in fixtures and further develop the sporting skills introduced in earlier years.  

GCSE PE 

In addition, students may choose to study IGCSE PE as an option subject. The course combines practical sport with the study of the science and theory that underpin effective physical performance. Students develop their skills across a range of physical activities while learning about areas such as anatomy and physiology, training methods, skill acquisition and the social influences on sport. Through both practical assessment and written examination, the course builds an understanding of how to perform safely, analyse performance and improve fitness and technique. 

A-level 

OCR A-level Physical Education course explores the scientific, psychological and social factors that influence performance and participation in sport. Students study areas such as anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, skill acquisition, sports psychology and the role of sport in society, developing a deeper understanding of how the body and mind respond to physical activity. The course combines academic study with practical assessment, where students are evaluated as either a performer or coach and analyse performance to improve it. 

Staff

Head of Sport and Physical Wellbeing: Hamish Morton, Head of Sport and Physical Wellbeing  htm@bws-school.org.uk  

Head of PE and Outdoor Education: James Oldham, Head of Physical Education and Outward Bound jmo@bws-school.org.uk  

Teachers of Physical Education:   

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