“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan

We aim to enrich our students' by teaching life skills through the exciting and ever changing world of sport ensuring that they leave the Academy with the knowledge of how to live an active, healthy lifestyle.

The PE Department has created a structured and monitored programme of exercise that integrates physical education with the overall Academy approach to health, knowledge of hygiene and diet and the appreciation of the value of physical activity and how it contributes to a healthy lifestyle.

Our vision is that Walthamstow Academy values will be brought to life through high quality physical education, sport and health-promoting physical activity so that every young person is:

• Ambitious – to excel: to be the best they can be in and through PE and sport;
• Confident – to participate, perform and lead;
• Creative – in their decision-making and in finding solutions to increasingly complex challenges;
• Respectful – of themselves, all of their peers and all adults involved in their sporting life, whether they be teachers, coaches, officials, medical staff etc;
• Enthusiastic – about engaging in physical activity and sport in school, out of school and beyond school life;
• Determined – to persist in overcoming obstacles, to lead healthy lifestyles and to achieve their best.

In the PE and Health curriculum, pupils will also develop their character, their leadership skills and be given opportunities to show their creative flair. The PE and Health curriculum will support and improve pupils’ physical and mental well-being as it prepares pupils for a life of health-enhancing physical activity through our core values. This curriculum also helps to develop empathy in young people for their peers with disabilities.

The curriculum is based on the United Learning model for PE and Health curriculum.

The students develop these skills through a varied curriculum covering Invasion Games, Dance, Trampolining, Fitness through Invasion Games, Athletics, Tracking and Fielding. Students are assessed through the use of the newly develop KPI’s which embody the United Learning and Walthamstow Academy PE departments ethos and aims for the curriculum. 

PE will offer you the opportunity to develop your skills in a wide range of activities and help you to improve your performance. You will be taught about exercise, how your body works to help you exercise, and then through training, how your performance can be improved.

You will already have been taught a wide range of different activities in your KS3 PE lessons, due to the new intellectualised curriculum.Key Stage 4 will develop these basic skills. You will develop the analytical skills necessary to look at and improve your own and others’ performance.

Physical Education allows you to develop a wide range of personal skills through the involvement in physical activity, and there is a cross-curricular link with Science, English and Maths.

Progression

A very good grade at GCSE will help you to move onto any AS, Advanced GCE or Advanced VCE course. If you enjoy your GCSE Physical Education, you may want to continue with the subject onto an Advanced Level Physical Education Course.

The BTEC National in Sport (Level 3) or Alevel PE will be a natural extension in the sixth form. You could go on to study Physiotherapy and Sport Science courses at university – see UCAS website for more information on other courses that can be studied.

Alternatively, you may wish to consider a more vocational related course, such as Leisure and Recreation, or even coaching sports. Employment opportunities where your skills will be particularly valued include the sport and leisure industry, travel and tourism and teaching.

Course Outline: Entry Requirements

A proven interest in the study of Physical Education and Sport and a commitment to developing your Sport Leadership skills.

The BTEC First in Sports has been designed to build on learning from Key Stage 3 for those that may wish to explore vocational route throughout Key Stage 4 and in post-16 education.

It introduces you to the world of employment in Sport and provides a good basis to go on to a more advanced work-related qualification.

If you enjoy the BTEC First in Sport Certificate, you may want to continue with the subject onto the Advanced Level Physical Education Course. The BTEC National Sport – Level 3 – will be a natural extension in the sixth form.

You could go on to study Physiotherapy and Sport Science courses at university – see UCAS website for more information on other courses that can be studied.

You may decide to progress onto the Key Stage 5 with us in the sixth form.

Students will receive 10 lessons over the two weeks and this will consist of three lessons on Anatomy and Physiology, three lessons on Psychology, three lessons on Sociology and one lesson covering the practical aspect.

Employment opportunities where your skills will be particularly valued include the sport and leisure industry, travel and tourism and teaching. You may wish to follow this course for its own sake, or because you are interested in fitness and health and enjoy physical activity.

• Walthamstow Academy PE t-shirt
• Walthamstow Academy PE shorts
• Navy blue tracksuit bottoms
• Navy blue socks
• Trainers/running shoes

Walthamstow Academy PE kit can be purchased from Speedstitch.

• East Side Eagles: See extracurricular timetable for training sessions
• Cricket for Change: Donovan Miller TBC for summer term
• Waltham Forest Hockey Club: Waltham Forest HC is based at Walthamstow Academy and offers first class training to our students
• Saracens Rugby Club: See extracurricular timetable for training sessions
• And there is more to come...

Walthamstow Academy PE department strives to create and all inclusive supportive environment for every student to achieve their best in sport. We focus on the holistic student providing them with the opportunity to become physically, socially and morally literate individuals.

• Mr Ruel Gibson – Head of PE 
• Ms Emily Farley – Head of Year 9
• Ms Brodie Stevens-Wood
• Mr Aristo Jackson
• Ms Hayley Burns

A wide range of extra-curricular activities are available at Walthamstow Academy and run during lunch times and after school. Some of these activities include; Basketball, Football, Trampolining, Volleyball Athletics, Rounders, Cricket, Table Tennis, Badminton, Gym club and Rugby.

The students have demonstrated their commitment to extra-curricular training and this can be seen through the multiple successes they have had throughout the year.

The Sports Ambassadors this year have also made a fantastic contribution to PE at the Academy and have run a number of sporting events, as well as multiple primary school events. The PE department are extremely proud of everything the students have achieved and look forward to recruiting more exceptional ambassadors next year.

Kayaking at Southmere Boating Centre

In February 2014, Year 11 GCSE PE students were given the opportunity to try Kayaking at Southmere Boating Centre in Abby Wood.

The students embarked on a two day course learning the strokes and techniques to allow them to be assessed in the sport for their GCSE.

Despite the howling wind, rain, hail and at some points sun, the students worked exceptionally hard and all achieved a grade which will boost their overall GCSE PE result.

Mr Matthews, Mr Mercer, and Miss Clare are extremely proud of the students and very impressed that almost all of the students capsized and swam in the murky, freezing lake to row their boats in to secure a high grade.