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PE
Introduction
The overall aim of the department is to enable students to enjoy and achieve through developing their physical capabilities to the full. Through acquiring the relevant skills and knowledge students’ will gain the understanding to fulfil a life-long active and healthy lifestyle.

The Staff Team
Mr J Thomas: I have been Head of PE at the School for the past 12 years. I am proud of the reputation the department has built up and particular highlights would be the Sports Tours to South Africa and our annual Sports Awards evening celebrating the success of our students. I am an avid Welsh Rugby and Football fan and since ‘retiring’ from team sports I am now working on improving my half marathon PB and hoping to enter a Triathlon in the near future.
Mrs S Fisher: I have worked at Chipping Norton School for over 10 years and have loved every minute. I have taught PE from year 7 to A Level and have always been committed to offering extra-curricular opportunities. My role at school now includes working closely with our 10 Partnership Primary Schools within Sport and Enrichment. I love playing any sport and at present play netball in the Swindon league.
Mrs C Tandy: I have been a teacher at Chipping Norton School since September 2002 and started as a Newly Qualified Teacher. My favourite sport to play is netball but rugby comes a very close second and I enjoy watching and following Gloucester Rugby. My main aim is for students to find a sport or physical activity that they enjoy and that they will continue with once they leave school.
Mr A Trainer: I have been at Chipping Norton School for 14 years, and having been both Head of PE and then Head of Sixth Form, my current role is Assistant Headteacher. I enjoy all sports but my true passion lies in Rugby. I thoroughly enjoy helping young people discover the same passion for Sport and PE as I have.
Miss A Pinfold: I have been at Chipping Norton School for 7 years. I’m so proud of the opportunities we offer within the department, both through lessons and the huge variety of extra-curricular activities available. It’s fantastic to see the students develop not only their sporting ability but personal attributes too. I hope to encourage all students to find enjoyment in sport and physical activity, and promote this to continue past their time with us. Football and Rugby are my main sports and after playing Football for 15 years I now enjoy coaching Rugby and following Wasps.
Mr A Hawkins White: Having recently joined Chipping Norton school and already I am thoroughly enjoying my time, getting to know all of the students. My favourite sports include rugby, cricket and golf, and I am a keen follower of Gloucester Rugby and Gloucestershire Cricket. I also support Cheltenham Town football club. My aim is to encourage and motivate students to find enjoyment in sport as well as see students apply the skills and life skills they learn in PE to external sports and life outside of school.
Miss J Miles: My passion for netball, swimming and fitness stems from a lifelong love of both physical activity and dance. I play netball for a team in Banbury and teach swimming and Dance in and around Chipping Norton. I believe my passion and enjoyment for sport and exercise is crucial in helping students discover their own enthusiasm for sport. I strive to create an environment where students feel empowered to engage in physical activity, understand its benefits, and develop a genuine interest in maintaining an active lifestyle. Witnessing students flourish in their athletic pursuits and grow into confident individuals is incredibly rewarding and reinforces my commitment to nurturing a love for sport within our school community and all the extra time activities we can provide.
Learning Space
We have fantastic facilities including the use of the leisure centre swimming pool, the fitness suite, squash courts, sports hall and the dance studio at the leisure centre. This goes alongside the school gym, Muga (4 netball courts), and extensive playing fields at the school.
The PE Department offer a broad range of extra-curricular activities to our pupils and has a good reputation within Oxfordshire for sporting success. Within curriculum time we divide Physical Education lessons into indoor and outdoor activities. The indoor activities change termly and the outdoor activities change every two terms.

The Curriculum
Key Stage 3
Year 7
Girls outdoor: Hockey, Netball, Rounders, Cricket, Athletics
Boys outdoor: Rugby, football, Cricket, Softball, Athletics
Indoor: FUNS, Rackets, Gymnastics, Swimming, Handball
- In games activities pupils will refine and develop basic skills, developing their confidence to implement them in small sided games. Pupils will also be introduced to the rules and regulations of the recognised version of each game, developing strategies in attack and defence to improve performance. Pupils will be taught methods of self and peer assessment and will use these skills to improve their knowledge and understanding of skills and tactics, together with improving personal performance.
- In FUNS pupils will be carrying out physical challenges which aim to develop positive attitudes towards physical activity. The course is designed to improve the core skills of agility, balance and co-ordination enabling greater confidence and access to the PE curriculum.
- During Swimming pupils will set and meet personal and group targets in swimming events, water based activities and personal survival challenges. They will also develop and use a range of recognised strokes and techniques.
- In Gymnastics we will be looking at body management and basic gymnastic movements to include: forward/backward roll, side roll, individual balances. Pupils will be set tasks involving the composition, performance and evaluation of gymnastic sequences involving floor work and basic apparatus.
Throughout all activities pupils will explore the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and how to prepare and recover from specific activities.
Year 8
Girls outdoor: Hockey, Netball, Rounders, Cricket, Athletics
Boys outdoor: Rugby, Football, Cricket, Softball, Athletics
Indoor: Rackets, Gymnastics, Basketball, FUNS
- In games activities pupils will refine existing skills and develop specific advanced skills for all games activities. Pupils will be performing these skills in full recognised matches to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the activities including the rules and regulations. Pupils will be given many opportunities for self and peer assessment and will be encouraged to ask questions about tactics in attack and defence to improve their personal performance.
- In FUNS pupils will refine the skills and understanding acquired in Year 7 and focus on its application in all activity areas. Furthermore pupils will set personal targets for achievement supporting long term athlete development.
- In Gymnastics we will be looking at body management and refining basic gymnastic movements covered in Year 7. We will then be developing advance techniques and introducing partner balances and the theme of travel. Pupils will be set tasks involving the composition, performance and evaluation of gymnastic sequences involving floor work and more advanced apparatus.
Throughout all activities pupils will explore the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and how to prepare and recover from specific activities.
Year 9
Girls outdoor: Hockey, Netball, Rounders, Cricket, Athletics
Boys outdoor: Rugby, Football, Cricket, Softball, Athletics
Indoor: Rackets, Trampolining, Basketball, Gymnastics, Fitness
- In games activities pupils will refine existing skills and develop specific advanced skills for all games activities. There will be a focus on decision making skills in game situations, where pupils will be actively discovering the most effective techniques in certain situations. Pupils will be given many opportunities for self and peer assessment.
- In Trampolining pupils will be introduced to basic skills and progress at a pace suitable for themselves. They will move onto the British Trampolining Awards.
- In gymnastics pupils will focus on Sports Acrobatics, working in small groups and setting their routine to music.
- In fitness pupils will be given a taster of GCSE PE theory through practical lessons where fitness testing and training is carried out to extend knowledge & understanding.
Throughout all activities pupils will explore the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and how to prepare and recover from specific activities.
Key Stage 4 – GCSE
All pupils have four hours of core PE a fortnight and activities include the major games, Badminton, Athletics, Trampolining and using the fitness suite. Students can also choose to study for a qualification following one of two routes; either the AQA GCSE Physical Education (8582) qualification. PE is a popular choice at GCSE.
Key Stage 5 – A Level
A Level PE (OCR H555)
The breakdown of this course is 70% theory and 30% practical assessment.
The theory component is examined through three exams and includes:
- Applied Anatomy & Physiology, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics
- Skill Acquisition, Sport Psychology
- Sport in Society
The practical component is made up of assessment in one sport/activity and an oral evaluation of performance.