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Curriculum Intent

At Leigh Academy Hugh Christie we share the intent to our students in the form of the acronym A.C.E. This stands for Aspire, Challenge and Enjoyment. We ensure that all students aspire to be the best they can be, are challenged to improve and ultimately enjoy what they do.

  • Aspire
    • Creates opportunities to develop key subject knowledge, understanding and skills related to all aspects of physical education.
    • Raises competence to excel and succeed in a broad range of individual and team sports
    • Encourages physical activity for sustained periods of time.
  • Challenge
    • Presents opportunities to be physically and mentally challenged in a range of sporting situations to build character.
    • Develops teamwork.
    • Develops resilience and courage.
  • Enjoyment
    • Presents opportunities for external competition at school, district, county and national level.
    • Develops the confidence and interest to continue participating regularly in sport outside of school and in later life through community links.
    • Inspires health, happiness and fitness for life.

ks3: Physical Health Education

In PE, our goal is to help you develop a healthy and active lifestyle. We focus on the “whole person,” using the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) framework to ensure your personal development is just as important as your sporting ability.

Skills for Life

Through Physical and Health Education (PHE), you will master more than just rules and techniques. You will build essential life skills:

  • Communication: Learning to lead a team and express ideas clearly under pressure.

  • Collaboration: Working effectively with others to achieve a shared goal.

  • Self-Management: Developing the discipline to stay organized, focused, and motivated.

A Holistic Approach

We use the MYP criteria to look at your growth both on and off the field. This means we value your strategic thinking, your attitude, and your leadership as much as your physical performance. We aim to develop confident, positive individuals who are ready to succeed in any situation.

  • Module 1: Performing in aesthetic activities
  • Module 2: Developing skills, techniques and roles in winter sports
  • Module 3: Personal improvement in fitness
  • Module 4: Developing tactics and strategies in winter sports
  • Module 5: Problem-solving in striking and fielding activities
  • Module 6: Developing skills, techniques and roles in summer sports
  • Module 1: Developing skills, techniques and roles in winter sports
  • Module 2: Developing tactics and strategies in wInter sports
  • Module 3: Personal improvement in fitness
  • Module 4: Coaching and leadership
  • Module 5: Developing tactics and strategies in summer sports
  • Module 6: Developing skills, techniques and roles in summer sports
  • Module 1: Developing skills, techniques and roles in winter sports
  • Module 2: Coaching & leadership
  • Module 3: Personal improvement in fitness
  • Module 4: Developing tactics and strategies in winter sports
  • Module 5: Developing tactics and strategies in summer sports
  • Module 6: Developing skills, techniques and roles in summer sports
Learning Journey

At Key Stage 3 pupils follow the MYP curriculum whereby they will experience themed modules encompassing a range of sports, opening doors to new activities. Pupils will be assessed in their knowledge, planning, application and reflective skills alongside their personal development i.e. the IB traits. The Curriculum is designed to deliver the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum in Physical Education.

The impact of sustaining a healthy and active lifestyle is well documented yet many adults fail to participate in recommended activity levels. Through our curriculum we hope that students find not only an understanding of, but a passion for sport and exercise. Pupils enjoy PE and Health at Leigh Academy Hugh Christie and the curriculum is routinely adapted to reflect the global context at the time e.g. Olympics, World Cups.

Through a theme based curriculum that encompass the holistic values and assessment criteria of the Middle Years Programme pupils learn the foundations of health, fitness and wellbeing as well as mastering skills, techniques and tactics in a range of sporting situations. We want pupils to become open-minded individuals, with confidence not just in their abilities but in themselves.

Each criterion is divided into various achievement levels. The level descriptors for each band describe a range of student performance in the various strands of each objective. At the lowest levels, student achievement in each of the strands will be minimal. As the numerical levels increase, the level descriptors describe greater achievement levels in each of the strands.

Assessment is through the MYP criteria:

  • Criteria A: Knowledge and understanding
  • Criteria B: Planning for Performance
  • Criteria C: Application of skills
  • Criteria D: Reflection and Improvement

ks4: core PE

n Years 10 and 11, PE is taught in mixed-gender and mixed-ability groups. We believe that working with a wide range of people helps you develop better communication and teamwork—skills that are useful far beyond the sports field.

Your Path to a Healthy Lifestyle

At this level, the focus shifts toward independence. We want you to start taking control of your own fitness and well-being.

  • Broad Experience: You will have the chance to try a huge variety of sports, from traditional team games to individual fitness activities.

  • High Expectations: Every student is challenged to reach their personal best, regardless of their starting point.

  • The Power of Choice: At certain points in the year, you will choose your own activities. This helps you discover the sports you truly enjoy and want to continue into adult life.

Learning Journey

At Key Stage 4 pupils will experience themed modules encompassing a range of sports, opening doors to new activities. Each module, pupils will be able to choose activities within which they want to engage.

Pupils are not assessed on their performance (as there is no accreditation as part of core PE).

The impact of sustaining a healthy and active lifestyle is well documented yet many adults fail to participate in recommended activity levels. Through our curriculum we hope that students find not only an understanding of, but a passion for sport and exercise. Pupils enjoy PE and Health at Leigh Academy Hugh Christie.

Through a theme based curriculum that encompasses the holistic values pupils learn the value and enjoyment of health, fitness and wellbeing as well as making conscious decisions as to their own preferences and enjoyment.  We want pupils to become open-minded individuals, with a confidence not just in their abilities but in themselves.

There is no assessment in Core PE throughout KS4.

ks4: sport studies

The Cambridge National is a vocational qualification equivalent to one GCSE. It is designed for students who want to look “behind the scenes” of the sporting world, moving from the pitch into the areas of media, leadership, and society.

What You Will Study

The course is divided into three key areas that explore how sport works in the modern world:

  • Contemporary Issues in Sport: Explore the “big picture,” including how major sporting events are run and the barriers that stop people from taking part.

  • Performance and Leadership: Develop your own sporting skills while learning how to coach, lead, and inspire others.

  • Sport and the Media: Analyze how sports are reported in the news, on social media, and on TV, and how this shapes our view of athletes.

How to Succeed

Because this is a practical and professional course, we expect you to be active in the sporting community. To get the most out of your studies, we strongly encourage you to:

  1. Stay Active: Take part in sports outside of your regular lessons.

  2. Get Involved: Join our extra-curricular clubs at school or play for a local team or private club.

  3. Lead by Example: Use your outside experience to help you master the “Leadership” part of the course.

  • Performance and Leadership in Sport
  • Sport and the Media
  • Sport and the Media
  • Contemporary Issues in Sport

ks5: sport & physical activity

Sport is one of the fastest-growing industries in the UK. It isn’t just about being a professional athlete; there is a massive range of careers from grassroots to international levels. This course is your gateway into fields like nutrition, marketing, sports therapy, and elite coaching.

Skills for the Workplace

This qualification is designed to be exciting and challenging. You won’t just learn about sport—you will develop “transferable skills” that employers in every industry look for:

  • Leadership & Coaching: Learn how to manage teams and inspire others.

  • Risk Assessment: Develop the ability to plan safely and think logically.

  • Adaptability: Practice staying calm and changing your tactics when situations shift.

What You Will Study

You will complete five units in total. These cover the science of the body, the psychology of the mind, and the business of how sport is organized in the UK.

The Core Units (Everyone Studies These):

  • Unit 1: Body Systems and the Effects of Physical Activity.

  • Unit 2: Sports Coaching and Leadership.

  • Unit 3: Sports Organisation and Development.

  • Unit 17: Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation.

  • Unit 19: Sport and Exercise Psychology.

How the Course is Structured

The course is a mix of practical work and exams. It is moderated by OCR and includes:

  • External Exams: Two units are tested by outside examiners.

  • Internal Assessment: The remaining units are assessed by your teachers and checked by the exam board.

  • Learning Hours: The course is made up of units ranging from 30 to 90 Guided Learning Hours (GLH).