PE is unique in the way it allows students to promote their physical development, health and well-being. It provides structured opportunities for them to engage in physical activity, improve their motor competence and helps them develop lifelong healthy habits of exercise and wellness.  

Moreover, PE contributes to the holistic development of students, not only enhancing physical health, but fostering cognitive, social and emotional growth. Through team sport, cooperative activities, and individual challenges, students learn valuable life skills such as team work, communication, resilience and leadership. PE allows students to master specific activities' enrichment, pursue sporting excellence and allows them to experience competition.  Research has shown that regular physical activity improves cognitive function, concentration and memory, leading to better academic outcomes. 

Additionally, PE can serve as a platform for promoting inclusivity and diversity.  It provides opportunities for students of all abilities to participate and excel.

Our vision is to ensure that all students, whatever their circumstances or ability,  experience a broad, enjoyable and challenging PE curriculum. We aim to inspire a love of physical activity and an understanding of its importance so that students lead life-long healthy, active lifestyles that benefit their short and long term physical, mental, emotional and social health.

The curriculum aims to go beyond what is examinable by building character and embedding values such as respect and fair play. Personal and social skills, including cooperation, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and resilience, are developed. We view commitment to physical activity as a highly effective tool in improving not only the sporting, but wider academic, social and emotional outcomes in the lives of our students.

Students will study a range of physical activities in Key Stage 3, including football, netball, rugby, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, health-related fitness, tennis, indoor athletics, track and field athletics and striking and fielding activities. All students, regardless of gender, will access the same activities, in line with the values of equality and inclusivity. 

The curriculum is designed with progression through motor skills, rules, strategies and tactics and the promotion of healthy participation.

In Year 7, we embed the fundamental motor skills of running, jumping, throwing, balance and coordination through a variety of activities and grow their knowledge and experience of the basic skills, rules and strategies required in specific sports. Students will begin to understand the benefits of exercise, how to safely and appropriately warm-up and, through the Everlearner homework tasks, will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the components of a healthy, balanced diet.  

In Year 8, learning builds upon the knowledge and skills acquired in Year 7 by further developing students’ understanding and performance of more advanced skills, rules and tactics across sporting activities.  They will develop the principles of attack and defence and further their ability to analyse and comment upon the performance of themselves and others.  Through the Everlearner homework tasks, students will have the opportunity to learn the basics of the key body systems, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, skeletal and muscular systems. 

In Year 9, students consolidate their learning by re-visiting many activities from previous years, progressing their knowledge and skills and incorporating an increasing amount of leadership and officiating and strategic planning for effective performance. Through Everlearner homework tasks, students have the opportunity to learn how the body systems respond to exercise, learn about different types of injuries, and acquire knowledge about long-term adaptations to exercise. 

Students will experience competition in summer and winter sports, taking on different roles and working together in teams, promoting cooperation, fair play, respect and resilience.

Students can opt to study the subject further on one of two academic PE pathways, as well as continuing with practical ‘core’ PE lessons.

OCR GCSE Physical Education

The GCSE in Physical Education qualification equips students with the knowledge, understanding and skills to develop their own performance in sport. They develop their understanding of socio-cultural influences on participation in sport, and the benefits of physical activity for health, fitness and well-being.

OCR Level 1/2 Cambridge National Sport Studies

The Cambridge National in Sport Studies course enables students to develop and apply their knowledge of sports-related activities, with a particular focus on leading and officiating. They explore contemporary issues in sport, different ways of being involved in the sports industry, and the impact of sport on wider society.

Core PE

In addition to examination and vocational courses, all students have three hours of core PE each fortnight, regardless of whether they choose to study a PE or Sport qualification. PE plays a vital role in providing an opportunity for young people to be physically active and benefit from the extensive benefits that exercise provides physically, mentally and socially. The curriculum builds upon the skills and knowledge from Key Stage 3 and focusses on healthy participation and building employability and interpersonal skills.

The department offers two academic pathways:

OCR A-level Physical Education 

A level PE combines theoretical content across physiology, psychology and sociology, with practical knowledge and performance, as either a coach or performer, in one sport. Students will gain a deep understanding of how physiological and psychological states affect performance and how the key socio-cultural factors that influence people’s involvement in physical activity and sport.  Learners are encouraged to be independent and critical and reflective thinkers with curious and enquiring minds.

OCR Level 3 CTEC Sport and Physical Activity Pathway

Students have the opportunity to study one of three vocational courses:

• Extended Certificate Sport and Physical Activity (equivalent to one A level in size) 
• Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity - Sports Coaching (equivalent to two A levels in size) 
• Extended Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity Development (equivalent to three A levels in size)

St Peter’s SLAM Basketball Academy

St Peter’s SLAM! Basketball Academy is a unique partnership between Three Spires Trust Sixth Form and Team Wolverhampton SLAM! Basketball Club, combining excellent academic opportunities and a basketball sports development programme for sixth form students from the Three Spires Trust.

Based at the Compton Road Campus, sixth form students can embark on a high-quality education and athletic program, which provides the opportunity for students to fulfil their basketball and academic potential. Whether it is to study or play at the university level, gain scholarships in the UK/USA or play basketball at the professional level, our students will have the teaching, coaching, mentoring and support to achieve their goals.

The Academy offers 10 – 15 hours of training/development every week, club-level league and cup competition, participation in national and international camps, competitions and tournaments, strength and conditioning training, game film analysis and the opportunity to gain recognised basketball and sports development qualifications.

The aim is for our programme to meet the needs of all levels of basketball interests for both males and females. Therefore, it caters for elite and development-level student athletes. Our Elite Team competes in the College Basketball League (CBL) and U18 National Basketball League. Our Development Teams compete in the Association of Colleges (AoC) and the YBL.

We are committed to an extensive extra–curricular programme across a wide variety of sports.   We pride ourselves on being a very inclusive department where everyone is welcome to join in the sessions both at lunchtime and after school.  Students can participate solely for enjoyment or have the opportunity to compete against other schools. Teams and individuals are entered into local and district competitions in activities including football, basketball, netball, cross-country, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, tennis, athletics, rounders and cricket. Many individuals and teams have been very successful in these competitions and have progressed to district, county, regional and national competitions. Where possible, the department often enters multiple teams to allow a greater number of students to experience the challenge of competition and to take pride in representing their school.  The department also takes up opportunities to enter SEND competitions.

As part of the extra-curricular provision, we have made many direct links with local community clubs, including Woodfield Table Tennis Club, Tettenhall Tigers Volleyball Club, SLAM Basketball and Spartan Mixed Martial Arts. Coaches from these clubs lead extra-curricular sessions for St.Peter’s students on site. We also have links with Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club through our School Sports Association of Wolverhampton membership. Staff are proactive in encouraging students to join local clubs and signpost students towards them.

Inter-form competition culminates in July with a Sports Day for  years 7, 8 and 9,  Years 7 and 8 compete in athletics events at Aldersley Stadium and Year 9 compete in a multi-sports event.  Sporting successes are celebrated through year group worship, the student bulletin, social media channels and end of year awards, including ‘Sports Personalities of the Year’.

Students from years 7 to 13 have leadership and officiating opportunities through their PE lessons, extra-curricular activities and intra-school sports competitions. The department facilitates students to lead competitions for local primary schools. Students also officiate and assist in inter-school competitions, including sports hall athletics, badminton, volleyball, netball and football. The department regularly hosts city and Black Country competitions, allowing some students to get involved in assisting in these events.

Alongside our extensive extra-curricular programme, we run a number of trips throughout the year.  In recent years, students have had the opportunity to attend visits, including England cricket test matches, BMX and track cycling at the National Cycling Centre and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Students also have the opportunity to travel abroad on multi-sports trips, travelling to Milan and Venice, offering students specialist games-based coaching, recreational sports activities and water sports, as well as cultural trips to local landmarks. The academy runs a successful Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.

Opportunities to compete in school teams continue to be available in sixth form. Sixth form students are encouraged to get involved in assisting in lower school PE lessons, lower school sports teams and the hosting of competitions, as part of the TS6 Enrichment Programme. Three Spires Trust Sixth Form students have the opportunity to access the fitness facilities at both the St Peter’s and St Regis sites and the swimming pool at St Regis.

Physical education lends itself to a range of careers in sports, health and fitness as well as a range of other industries. Some careers that you could consider doing with PE include:

• Sports Science (Exercise Physiologist, Psychologist, Biomechanist)
• PE Teacher
• Sports Coach
• Physiotherapist
• Leisure and Recreation Management
• Professional Sportsperson
• Sports Development
• Dietitian/Nutritionist 
• Personal Trainer
• Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Sports Journalism 
• Sports Marketing and Media
• Sports Technology
• Sports Events Management
• Outdoor Activity Instructor

In addition to exposure in their PE lessons, students have the chance to learn more about careers in sport through trips to sports careers fairs, the FA’s National Football Centre at St George’s Park and also through careers talks from industry professionals. Basketball coaching and officiating qualifications are available to committed students in Key Stages 4 and 5. 

Although many A level PE and CTEC Sport students pursue a sports-related career option, a significant number of past students progress on to further study and careers outside of the sports and health industries, including the armed and public services, engineering, business, law, accounting, geography, performing arts, English literature and primary education.