Francis Holland School Physical Education

Physical Education

'Sports do not build character. They reveal it.' Haywood Broun

Physical Education is taught from Reception to the Sixth Form by enthusiastic practitioners. Girls will experience a wide-variety of activities and have the opportunity to develop physical and analytical skills either individually, in small groups or in team situations.

The Physical Education curriculum aims not just to develop skills, but also to encourage continued participation in exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. A number of extra-curricular clubs are provided to complement the timetableas well asto compete in teams against other London schools.

Staff

The Department of six is led by Ms Sarah Deadman, and consists of two other full-time members, Ms Barras and Mrs Margetson, and three part-time staff, Mrs Mrowiec, Mrs Bailey-Smith and Ms Douglas. There are also additional coaches employed for Year 11 and Sixth Form lessons. The department is highly qualified in all areas of the curriculum and have coaching and sporting representative honours from county to international level.

Key Stage 3

We aim to apply and extend existing skills within a variety of activities and develop leadership within game play. There is an additional emphasis on physical fitness and its role in a healthy lifestyle.

Key Stage 4

Our focus is to promote healthy living through general fitness sessions and to introduce the girls to new activities, such as yoga, softball, aerobics, football and basketball. This develops links with local agencies and encourages the girls to maintain their interest outside curriculum time.

GCSE (short course)

This was introduced in 2005 and has been received with great success. It is a two-year course which involves theory and practical elements. The theory components explore diet and health, principles of training and safety aspects of physical exercise. Girls are assessed in two practical activities which can include those in which they participate externally, such as dance, skiing or horse-riding.

Sixth Form

The girls participate in a weekly sports afternoon in which they select leisure options which include aerobics, dance, badminton, football, gym programme, ice-skating, rowing, squash, ten-pin bowling and yoga.

Competitions

Throughout the year, girls participate in inter-house competitions in hockey, netball, rounders and tennis, culminating with the swimming galas and sports days. These are fantastic whole-school events which encourage a sense of identity within the houses, competing against girls in different year groups.