Culverhay School PE Department

The PE department at Culverhay aims to equip all pupils with the knowledge and understanding to adopt active and healthy lifestyles.  They are joined by a School Sports Co-ordinator who helps to improve the quality and provision of PE at both Culverhay and its local Primary schools.

How the subject is taught

At Culverhay, pupils in years 7-9 follow compulsory units of work in all of the designated National Curriculum areas.  All pupils receive 2 one-hour lessons a week; this is significantly more than some secondary schools in Bath.  The concentration is on traditional team games such as football, rugby, basketball and cricket, but swimming, athletics, gymnastics, racquet sports and outdoor activities also play major roles.

In Key Stage 4, pupils have the opportunity to select their own programme in which they refine their skills established in the early years and are introduced to new sports.  Pupils have many opportunities to achieve sport specific awards including accredited sports leaders qualifications (JSLA and Top Link).

Particularly able pupils also have the option to follow the popular and successful GCSE PE course and progress to either a National Diploma or A level PE in the Sixth Form.  All of the courses are based in the new Sports Science Lab.  Pupils identified as gifted and talented have access to a wide range of extra opportunities such as specialist coaching clinics and multi-sports holiday camps at the University of Bath.

The department also takes responsibility for BTEC and OCR Public Services.  The BTEC was introduced in 2005 with the first pupils qualifying this year.  It is intended to introduce Public Services Level 3 into the Sixth Form in September 2007.

The PE department works to ensure that physical activity is a positive and enjoyable experience for pupils of all abilities.  Culverhay is in its third year of a successful School Sports partnership with Oldfield Sports College.  This has enable us to lead the way in terms of the delivery and provision of quality PE and school sport in Bath and NE Somerset.