PE & Dance

PE & Dance Curriculum Overview

PE & Dance at PACA aim to inspire all students to lead healthy, active lives while developing physical confidence, creativity and essential performance and leadership skills.

Our curriculum is designed so every student experiences a wide range of sports, fitness opportunities and dance styles while also building the knowledge needed to sustain lifelong participation in physical activity. 

Across Key Stage 3, students develop fundamental movement skills, tactical understanding and performance quality through a broad activity programme. Dance lessons develop creativity, expressive ability and choreographic skills. Students can progress into specialised routes at Key Stage 4, including GCSE PE, Sport Studies, Health & Social Care, and BTEC Dance, each supported through practical and theoretical study. 

 

Key Stage 3

Year 7: Foundations in Physical Literacy & Creativity

Students build core skills across major sports and movement disciplines.  Activities typically include:

• Football, Netball, Rugby
• Gymnastics and Dance
• Basketball, Badminton
• Fitness and introduction to Athletics
  
  

Key Learning:

• Developing agility, balance, coordination and basic tactical awareness
• Understanding warm‑ups, safety and positive participation
• In dance: learning fundamental choreographic devices, performing short motifs and working in unison/canon
• Building confidence and forming positive attitudes to physical activity

Themes & Vocabulary: Technique, coordination, teamwork, motif, formation, control, sportsmanship.

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Year 8: Developing Technique, Tactics & Choreographic Skills

Students consolidate movement skills and begin applying deeper tactical and expressive knowledge through a growing range of activities:

• Football, Netball, Basketball
• Dance (including stimulus-based choreography)
• Fitness, Gymnastics
• Badminton and Table Tennis
• Athletics (Track & Field)

Key Learning:

• Applying strategies and tactics in team and individual sports
• Leadership opportunities: officiating basic rules
• In dance: developing phrases using action–space–dynamics–relationships, responding creatively to stimuli
• Understanding components of fitness and how training impacts performance

Themes & Vocabulary: Attack/defence, accuracy, sequence, dynamics, timing, evaluation.

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Year 9: Refining Performance & Preparing for KS4 Pathways

Year 9 provides depth, challenge and increased independence. Activities may include:

• Football, Netball, Rugby
• Dance technique and choreography
• Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton
• Fitness Suite training
• Athletics, Rounders, Cricket
• Outdoor & Adventurous Activity
  
  

Key Learning:

• Refining and applying advanced techniques in familiar and unfamiliar contexts
• Designing simple personal fitness plans
• In dance: developing longer choreographic works with clear intent and group structures
• Preparing for KS4 with richer analytical skills and exposure to leadership roles

Themes & Vocabulary: Specificity, overload, choreography, expressive skills, roles 

 

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Key Stage 4

PE Pathways at KS4

At the end of Year 9, students can select a PE pathway that reflects their interests and ambitions.

Students also have access to a range of KS4 qualifications:

GCSE PE

Students study the science behind performance and are assessed through both theory and practical components. Practical moderation and external exams take place in Year 11.
Full specification available here: GCSE - Physical Education (9-1) - J587

Sport Studies (Cambridge National)

A vocational option focusing on sports leadership, performance analysis, and contemporary issues in sport.

Full specification available here: Cambridge Nationals - Sport Studies Level 1/Level 2 – J829

Health & Social Care

Introduces understanding of health, wellbeing and human development.

Full specification available here: Cambridge Nationals - Health and Social Care Level 1/Level 2 – J835

BTEC Dance

A performance- and coursework-based qualification exploring technique, choreography and professional works. 

Full specification available here: Performing Arts (2022) | BTEC Tech Awards | Pearson qualifications

 

Extra-Curricular & Enrichment

Students have a wide range of winter and summer enrichment activities and competitive opportunities throughout the year, including:

• Sports clubs: football, netball, basketball, rounders, cricket
• Dance clubs and performance groups
• Fitness Suite sessions
• OAA opportunities and enrichment events
• Annual Fulking Run for Y11 and Dodgeball events

These experiences allow students to participate, compete, lead and develop skills beyond the classroom.