Physical Education
Physical education helps students to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies to live healthy and physically active lives at school and for the rest of their life. The Physical Education department at Tring School are fully committed to the all-round development of each student and the curriculum we offer reflects this passion.
We encourage the positive values of determination and resilience throughout all our key stages and students within our department feel safe and confident to participate and perform. Our curriculum provides students with the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities and experience different teaching methods in order to develop physically, mentally and emotionally. Health related fitness plays a big part in our curriculum at all key stages and we aim to encourage and support all students to improve and maintain their fitness levels. Students are encouraged to work individually and as part of a team which helps build trust, problem solving and communication skills. Competition is a huge part of the sporting environment and life in general and whilst we encourage competition and the competitive spirit we also promote the ideals of fair play and sportsmanship. We feel that this provides a positive and enjoyable learning environment for all our students. Through our curriculum we hope students build the confidence and interest to get involved in exercise, sports and activities out of school and later in life.
Tring School boasts excellent sporting facilities which allows us to offer a broad range of activities. These include a gymnasium, a 5 Badminton court sports hall, a 25m swimming pool, an all weather artificial pitch, 3 netball / tennis courts and extensive grassed playing fields. We also use local sports facilities like Tring Squash Club on a regular basis for lessons and extracurricular.
PE kit requirements can be found on our School Uniform page
Please see the folder at the bottom of this page for Read It and Watch It suggestions.
KEY STAGE 3
Throughout the year students will experience a wide range of activities that will be taught in activity blocks.
These activities include, swimming, trampolining, badminton, basketball, football, rugby, netball, rounders, athletics, cricket, table tennis, softball, orienteering, alternative sports provision and tennis. All students are encouraged to perform, lead, coach and umpire in the range of activities and all these areas are continually assessed, tracked and monitored to ensure progress is being made. Students are mainly taught in single sex and ability groups during this key stage.
How can I help my child through KS3 Physical Education?
- Encourage participation in lessons and extra curricular activities.
- Ensure their kit is clean and ready for the lesson and is fully named/labelled.
- Encourage minimal valuables are brought into school on PE days. If they do have valuables it remains their responsibility.
What will my child be studying in years 7, 8 and 9?
Students follow a wide range of activities throughout KS3. Activities are normally split into termly blocks. Students have 4 lessons a fortnight, 2 indoor and 2 outdoor.
How will my child be assessed?
Students are assessed throughout each activity and more formally given an attainment band at the end of each activity block which they reveive on MyChildAtSchool (MCAS).
KEY STAGE 4
All Students receive four one hour lessons per fortnight. During this key stage we aim to offer students more opportunities to increase their experiences and discover activities that they enjoy and are likely to continue with after leaving school.
KS4 students have the opportunity to take part in on school site activities (normal range of activities we offer according to our facilities). Students follow either a Performance (more competitive) or Participation (more recreational) pathway.
Students will learn:
- New skills through participating in a broad range of activities.
- How to lead activities and take on the role of an official
- The muscles that are used in physical activity and basic information about the energy systems.
- Different tactics and strategies that can improve play and performances.
- How to work as part of a team
- How to work safely in the PE environment
- Sportsmanship and fair play
- Resilience and determination
- How to lead a healthy and active lifestyle
KEY STAGE 4 - GCSE
Exam Board: AQA
Tiered Exam: Full Award (equivalent to 1 GCSE)
How is the course assessed?
60% written examination at the end of the Year 11 and 40% coursework (there are two exams, both worth 30% and are 1 hour and 15 minutes each). Students are assessed in a range of sports in the role of performer and are required to have 3 practical assessments.
Theory content is assessed through 2 x 1 hour 15 minute examination paper. 60%
The question paper will be made of different types of questions including multiple choice, short and long answer. Some of the topics that will be covered will be healthy living, diet, principles of training, competition, movement analysis and anatomy and physiology.
Practical assessment – 40%. Three practical performances will be assessed in the role of player/performer. These assessments are internally graded and externally moderated.
All practical activities are assessed in skills and in a fully competitive situation. Students will also be assessed on their analysis and evaluation of a performance.
Please refer to the AQA website for more information
AQA specification for Physical Education (8582)
What is covered on the course?
Living an healthy lifestyle; anatomy; exercise physiology; fitness and training; participation in sport; contemporary issues in sport e.g. drugs
What texts would you recommend?
AQA GCSE Physical Education: Student Book by Kirk Bizley
AQA GCSE (9-1) PE by Ross Howitt
Pearson REVISE AQA GCSE Physical Education Revision Workbook: For 2025 and 2026 assessments and exams (Purple revision guide)
What websites would you recommend?
BBC Sport; BBC Bitesize; www.teachpe.com
KS4 BTEC Tech Award in Sport (2022)
Exam Board: Pearson-Edexcel
The Tech Award gives students the opportunity to develop sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through realistic vocational contexts.
Students will explore the different types and providers of sport and physical activity, as well as the equipment and technology available. Building on this, you will look at individuals’ differing needs, to gain an understanding of how to increase participation in sport while further developing their knowledge and understanding of anatomy and physiology in a contextualised way. They will then apply their knowledge and skills to planning and delivering sports activity sessions for participants in practical sessions.
What is covered in the course
- Component 1 - Preparing Participants to Take Part in Sport and Physical Activity (30%)
- Component 2 - Taking Part and Improving Other Participants Sporting Performance (30%)
- Component 3 - Developing Fitness to Improve Other Participants’ Performance in Sport and Physical Activity (40%)
How the Course is Assessed
The course consists of 3 components. Components 1 and 2 are assessed through non-exam internal assessment (30% for each).
There is one external assessment, Component 3, which provides the main synoptic assessment for the qualification and is worth 40% of your overall grade. This will be completed at the end of year 11.
The qualification is graded over seven grades from Level 1 Pass to Level 2 Distinction*
ENRICHMENT AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR
We provide a number of opportunities for students wishing to take part in sport outside of the curriculum. We have an excellent sporting reputation both locally and nationally through our extensive extra-curricular programme which focuses on recreational participation as well as competitive performances. We regularly play in national, county and district competitions as well as friendly fixtures and we have strong links with local sports clubs.
House sporting events
Tring School also has a very strong and competitive house system which our house games, swimming galas, house cross-country and annual sports day are integral parts. These events give all students the opportunity to take part in sporting activities for their house.
Enrichment
The PE department offer other opportunities for recreational and sporting activities. We organise the bi-annual ski trip for years 10 and above, Year 8 & 9 sports tour to Valkenburg comprising of football, rugby and netball and enrichment activities such as the Year 8 trip to Willen Lake in Milton Keynes for a whole day of outdoor and adventurous activities (including water sports).
PE Department
| Joint Subject Leader | Mr C Curry |
| Joint Subject Leader | Miss L Sandy |
| Assistant Subject Leader | Mr D Wilson |
| Mr N Barlow - Assistant Headteacher | |
| Miss K Cox | |
| Mr J Hutchings | |
| Miss H Jarvis | |
| Mr D Redwood | |
| PE Technician | Mr S Hudson |