Physical Education Department

Queen Elizabeth High School has been awarded Sportsmark status in recognition of the excellent opportunities available to students and our commitment to the local community.

All students at Queen Elizabeth High School have access to the Physical Education Programme. Our aim is to achieve maximum participation and in the process produce motivated and informed students. Within the curriculum we provide opportunities for all students to plan, perform and evaluate in a range of physical activities. In recognition of our responsibility within the community Year 11 students are encouraged to have a working knowledge of the facilities available throughout the area. An increasing number of students is involved in JSLA, CSLA and HSLA. We organise an annual Top Link Festival, involving over 300 students from partnership first schools and support learning in the Priory Special School.

On-site facilities include -
Training shed (three badminton courts, two cricket nets, one basketball court)
Gymnasium (one badminton, one basketball court)
Weight room (Free weights)
Synthetic hockey/soccer pitch
Two outdoor basketball courts
Two rugby pitches
Six tennis courts
Five netball courts
Six Outdoor Notts cricket nets
Rowing Ergo machines.

Off-site we have access to the local leisure centre, canoeing, rugby, football, hockey, swimming, cricket, squash, athletics, orienteering, golf and rowing facilities.

Physical Education is taught in single sex groups in Year 9. There is a broad and balanced provision within the framework of National Curriculum requirements. In Year 10 the students are taught in single sex groups concentrating on major games, recreational /creative activities and health based issues. Much of the Year 11 programme involves giving students the opportunity to use local leisure facilities. They make a directed choice of activity with potential performance and enjoyment being the major selection criteria.

Examination Physical Education is an important and developing element of our programme. At present we have four groups studying GCSE in both Years 10 and 11, two AS level and one National Diploma [Level3] group in Year 12 and one A2 and one BTEC group in Year 13. We are introducing the OCR National Certificate [Leve l2] at KS4 in September 2007.

As a community we believe that wehave a responsibility to help develop the profession. As such we are part of the highly successful North East Partnership School Centred Initiatial Teacher Training Programme. We have representation on the management board and are involved in selection and providing lectures for students on the course.

We have representation on the Tynedale Sports Council and Youth Sport Advisory groups. Tynedale is proactive in organising access to coaching qualifications and our students can select from a wide range of awards and NCF key courses. We are participating in a school sports co-ordinator scheme with full time teachers based at the school and working within the partnership. Local community coaches also work in the partnership.

Effective curricular work provides the foundation for a thriving extra-curricular commitment. With a strong games tradition, we enjoy the support of students and staff offering a wide range of sporting and recreational activities. Major games are particularly strong aspects of our winter provision with athletics, tennis and cricket being important in the summer.

Steve Mullins
Head of Physical Education