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Physical Education

We are proud to promote the sheer inspiration and enjoyment of sport at all levels, not only as an end in itself, but also as a constant opportunity to foster our core values in every student. Physical Education (PE) at St Columba’s College aims to provide students with the skills, abilities and knowledge to lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives, now and in the years to come.

Vision Statement

‘Physical Education at St Columba’s College aims to give every pupil from reception through to 6th Form the opportunity to enjoy physical activity and sport; be that through play and skill development in the curriculum or competition in extra-curricular and inter-house sports. It is our goal to offer every pupil the opportunity to find a physical movement they love to be a part of, allowing them the opportunity to lead a healthy, active lifestyle, whether that be recreationally or at an elite level.’

Through our broad curriculum, students are enthused and challenged by dedicated PE staff who are primed to bring out the best in their students. Our curriculum is tailored to suit students’ needs covering a wide range of opportunities. Alongside the more traditional Rugby, Netball, Hockey, Basketball, Cricket, Athletics and Tennis, we also cover an optional programme of Handball, Badminton, Volleyball, Swimming and Strength and Conditioning to name a few; we constantly seek to add new challenges to this offering as pupils move through the years. 

On a competitive level we focus on Rugby, Football, Netball, Cross Country, Cricket, Athletics, Tennis and Swimming: numerous international sports people among current students and alumni have been supported by the department. Students take part in local, regional, national and international competitions.

Physical Education at St Columba’s is not only about excelling through performance, but also through an understanding of coaching, teaching and officiating. Some students go on to develop these roles at national-level sports events. This broad focus ensures that all students have the opportunity to excel and demonstrates that physical ability is not the only avenue for success: perseverance, dedication and commitment are equally valued.

Prep

Physical Education: Prep

Curriculum

During the academic years at St Columba’s, pupils take part in a range of sports:

  • Rugby
  • Netball
  • Football
  • Gymnastics
  • Dance
  • Basketball
  • Swimming
  • Cross Country
  • Athletics
  • Cricket
  • Fencing
  • Health Related Fitness
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis

Lesson structure and challenges change throughout the year groups to keep the curriculum flowing, catering for different abilities and pupil aims.

Competing Squads

  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Athletics
  • Cross Country
  • Swimming
  • Fencing

Clubs

We run several clubs as part of the SHAPE programme which are non-competitive sport for all. These include many of the sports that we cover in the curriculum.

Many of our pupils compete individually at County level in Fencing, Cross Country and Swimming.

Senior

Physical Education: Senior

Curriculum

During the academic years at St Columba’s, pupils take part in a range of sports:

  • Rugby
  • Netball
  • Football
  • Gymnastics
  • Dance
  • Basketball
  • Swimming
  • Cross Country
  • Athletics
  • Cricket
  • Climbing
  • Handball
  • Volleyball
  • Badminton
  • Rounders
  • Fencing
  • Health Related Fitness
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis

Lesson structure and challenges change throughout the year groups to keep the curriculum flowing, catering for different abilities and pupil aims.

Competing Squads

  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Athletics
  • Cross Country
  • Swimming
  • Tennis

Clubs

We run several clubs as part of the SHAPE programme which are non-competitive sport for all. These include many of the sports that we cover in the curriculum.

Sixth Form

Physical Education Sports Science: Sixth Form

Why choose Physical Education?

Studying A Level Physical Education will give you a fantastic insight into the amazing world of sports performance. The emphasis throughout the course is on the development of your knowledge, competence and confidence in a wide variety of skills that will enable you to confidently move forward in life.

You will learn how Physical Education affects and contributes to society and also how to apply your knowledge from this course to any number of different practical situations or career choices.

Not only will you have the chance to perform or coach a sport through the non-exam assessment component, you will also develop a wide-ranging insight into the how and why of Physical activity and sport. You can perform, and then through the academic study improve your performance or coaching though application of the theory.

Physical Education is studied through a range of different contexts and the impact it has on both ours and other’s everyday lives. You will learn the reasons why we do things and why some people out perform others, both mentally and physically. You will also delve into the ethical considerations behind the use of drugs and also the influence that modern technology is having in and on physical activity and sport.

What will you learn?

Physical education at A Level builds on the work you have met at GCSE in PE and GCSE Biology. This is an interesting and challenging learning experience, linking key sporting ideas with practical performance and gaining insight into the relationships they have with each other.

The development of transferable skills including: decision making, psychological understanding of people, independent thinking, problem solving and analytical skills as well as thinking and acting under pressure.

  • Joints movement and Muscle functions and types of contraction
  • Analysis of movement
  • Cardiovascular system at rest and during exercise of differing intensities
  • Respiratory system at rest and during exercise of differing intensities
  • Diet and nutrition
  • Ergogenic aids
  • Acute and chronic injuries Injury prevention
  • Rehabilitation of injury
  • Biomechanical principles
  • Linear and Angular motion
  • Fluid mechanics
  • Routes to sporting excellence
    Projectile motion
  • Classification of skills
  • Principles and theories of learning movement skills
  • Information processing
  • Individual, group and team dynamics in sports performance
  • Attribution, confidence and self-efficacy in sports performance
  • Leadership in sport
  • Emergence and evolution of modern sport
  • Sport in the 21st century
  • Ethics and deviance in sport
  • Commercialisation and the media
  • Modern technology in sport

Student view

“I chose A Level PE because I loved learning about the subject at GCSE and I had plans to further my education in sport a university.
What I liked most about A Level PE was how it gave me the opportunity to learn about multiple disciplines all within the focus of sport. I gained a deep understanding of history, psychology and the anatomy and their relation to sport”.

Tejas PE Student

Entry Requirement

Grade 6 or higher in the theory sections of the GCSE paper. Likewise, a 6 or higher for non-GCSE PE students in biology and English.

GCE PE – OCR Examination Board – H555

Curriculum Subjects

  • Art & Design
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  • Mathematics
  • Modern Foreign Languages
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Physics
  • Politics
  • PSHE
  • Psychology
  • Religious Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Sociology

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Contact Us

St Columba’s College,
Registered Address:
8-10 King Harry Lane,
St Albans,
Hertfordshire,
AL3 4AW

Transport & Directions

Tel: 01727 855185

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