Physical Education Department
The Physical Education department at Erasmus Darwin Academy plays a leading role in the
life of this extremely successful academy. As a recently re-designated Sports College,
emphases on the delivery of high quality PE lessons combined with a comprehensive extracurricular offer (including the Duke of Edinburgh Award) are at the heart of the department’s
philosophies.
The PE department forms part of the ‘Sport and the Arts Faculty’ and works closely with Art
and Music departments in a process of self-evaluation and development. The PE department
staff comprise of 6 full-time staff (including a Faculty Leader for Sport and the Arts, a Lead
Teacher of PE and an Assistant Vice-Principal), as well as a School Games Organiser for the
Burntwood and Lichfield area.
The Academy boasts some of the finest facilities in the County, with a purpose-built PE and
Sports department comprising of a Sports Hall (with 4 badminton courts, 10 basketball hoops,
5-a-side football and two fully equipped cricket nets); dance studio with integrated audio
system, projector and ICT facilities (also used for Trampolining, Aerobics and Gymnastics); a
fitness suite extensively equipped with TechnoGym equipment; 2 dedicated PE classrooms
with ICT facilities and a large department office. Last year also saw the opening of our fullsized 3G floodlit astro-turf pitch. An 8-court tennis court area is also used for a variety of other
activities including outdoor basketball and netball. In addition to all of these, we also have
extensive field space marked out for two football pitches, a rugby pitch, a cricket pitch,
multiple rounders pitches and both track and field athletics.
In order to fully utilise the facilities on offer at the Academy, we have created a broad and
exciting curriculum for students to follow. Students follow a two-year KS3 in which they
experience the full range and content of the National Curriculum. In year 9, students follow a
course of National Curriculum activities selected to prepare them for the transition to KS4
examination study. These include activities involving Leadership awards, fitness testing and
training as well as outwitting opponents and performing at maximum levels. In KS4, students
choose the ‘pathway’ that best suits their preferences from a choice of ‘Get Leading’, ‘Get
Involved’, ‘Get Competitive’ and ‘Get in Shape’. As a result of highly personalised curriculum
planning and high quality lessons from specialist teaching staff we are able to achieve 100%
participation in lessons and high standards related to PE kit and behaviour. The use of
Dartfish software and other ICT resources also significantly contribute to the engagement of
students.
Our curriculum offer includes full course Edexcel GCSE PE, OCR AS and A2 PE, as well as
Level 2 and 3 BTEC Sport Qualifications. Results on these courses have been consistently
high over the past three years, with 100% A*-C in GCSE PE, 100% pass on BTEC Sport
Courses and 100% A*-E at A2-Level. Students following A2-level PE study Exercise and
Sport Physiology, Sports Psychology and Comparative Studies. These are delivered using the
dedicated ICT classrooms within department as described above.
The PE department has a strong commitment towards continual professional development
and raising standards of learning and teaching. Members of the PE department play a major
role in Academy working parties and other development groups (such as VLE) so that the
department not only shares the outstanding practice it has to offer, but also to ensure that the
department is at the forefront of latest advancements and current thinking in pedagogy and
practice. Working within this environment would offer an exciting opportunity to contribute to a
high-performing department with even higher aspirations for both the staff and the students
we are responsible for.
January 2012