Ethos
The Physical Education Department at St Brigid’s High School is a very successful innovative department. Our departmental ethos is based upon a ‘Sport for All’ principle. We aim to challenge pupils of all abilities, to set and work towards realistic goals to enable all pupils to achieve their true potential.
We aim to stimulate interest and enjoyment in PE, while promoting the role of physical activity as part of a healthy active lifestyle. Pupils will experience a range of sports and will be challenged not only to improve practical abilities but be encouraged to develop personal, social and decision making skills.
“We aim to develop individual skills, teamwork, and leadership through participation in physical activity”.
At St Brigid’s High School we will strive to make young people healthier, encourage them to develop their self-discipline and teamwork skills, develop their leadership potential and introduce them to activities they may enjoy and derive health benefits from for a lifetime aims of the PE Department are to:
KEY STAGE THREE
YEAR 8
The topics covered at this level include Gaelic Football where basic skills and some analysis are the main emphasis. Basketball, where passing, dribbling, footwork and shooting are covered. Gymnastics including areas like travel, weight transference, balance and so on. Swimming to give each pupil practical proficiency in water. Athletics including basic running, throwing and jumping technique.
YEAR 9
The same areas are covered as in first year only in more detail and with a greater emphasis on performance. The team sports develop areas like attack and defence, support play, tackling and marking and positional awareness. In athletics the thrust is on developing improved technique and an awareness of the fitness requirements of each discipline.
YEAR 10
The topics covered at this stage include Gaelic Football, Gymnastics, Basketball, Fitness Testing Badminton, Athletics and Striking & Fielding. Pupils are encouraged to monitor and evaluate their own and others performance and to give positive feedback as to how improvement can be made.
KEY STAGE FOUR
YEARS 11 / 12
The emphasis in both these year groups is on several games related areas and health related education. Pupils are encouraged to become responsible for their own fitness programmes, to monitor fitness levels and also of the need to seek to develop their own fitness / sports participation outside school.
GCSE Physical Education
This is an increasingly popular course. Our pupils follow CCEA GCSE PE which has both practical and theoretical elements.
Pupils are assessed by
• completing a final written examination (30%)
• completing practical assessments in three physical activities (50%)
• completing assessment in Analysis and Improvement of Performance in an Exercise Activity (20%)
