Love sport? We offer a varied curriculum in PE allowing students to experience a wide range of physical activities and sports. These include the traditional sports such as football, rugby, hockey and netball, but we also offer a range of alternative activities within curriculum time including trampolining, orienteering, swimming, fitness, table tennis and dance. We want to inspire young people to participate fully and enjoy the physical, psychological and social benefits of leading a healthy, active lifestyle. We aspire to promote excellence, determination, respect, courage, inspiration and equality in all that we do.
We are also part of the new Specialist School curriculum in the School of Leadership; we run 2 modules entitled Games Leader and Fitness Leader.
Intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong.
JOHN F KENNEDY
Please also visit the Varndean PE google website, with lots of further information on this subject and regular fixtures news - please also see the PE Fixture Calendar on the Extra-curricular, Enrichment and DofE page for dates and venue information on our fixtures.
Here at Varndean PE we offer a varied curriculum allowing students to experience a wide range of physical activities and sports.
These include the traditional sports such as football, rugby, hockey and netball, but we also offer a range of alternative activities within curriculum time including trampolining, orienteering, swimming, fitness, table tennis and dance.
We want to inspire young people to participate fully and enjoy the physical, psychological and social benefits of leading a healthy, active lifestyle. We aspire to promote excellence, determination, respect, courage, inspiration and equality in all that we do.
In KS4 we offer students the opportunity to follow either the AQA GCSE pathway or the NCFE Vcert pathway.
We also deliver a year 7 programme through our Specialist School curriculum, giving students the opportunity to learn about the benefits of Health, fitness and nutrition.
During a student's first half term they will experience a series of PE lessons designed to evaluate their starting point. These lessons include racquet sports, invasion games, fitness and dance. Students are then placed in groups in relation to their knowledge and understanding, experience of physical activity and mindset. Activity blocks range from 4 double lessons to 8 double lessons across Years 7 and 8 where the emphasis is on developing skills, decision-making, leadership and knowledge and understanding factors impacting on performance. All students will complete 1-2 lessons of cross-country running before the end of the Autumn term. Students will also get the opportunity to complete a 4 week swimming programme in Year 7.
Year 9-11 core PE has longer activity blocks and some opportunities for students to choose between activities. As part of the options process students can opt into GCSE PE or V Cert Health and Fitness (Level 2) which is normally taught over 3 years. For some students, there will be an opportunity to attend 'breakfast club' lessons between 7.40 and 8.40 am with a view to studying GCSE PE as an additional subject.
Calum Thomas BEd Hons, PGDip
Director of Physical Education Mr Thomas has professional interests in the development of physical literacy in young people and the role of competitive sport in developing resilience. He ensures the importance of 'lifelong' learning activities in physical education are at the heart of the department.
Angela Simmonds, BA Hons
Head of of Girls' Physical Education, Equalities Lead teacher. Mrs Simmonds has a passion for health and fitness and is a keen runner and mountain biker in her spare time. Mrs Simmonds has a personal interest in netball and athletics.
Helen MacDonald BA Hons, PGCE
Head of Dance and AQA moderator and examiner Ms MacDonald has specialist interest in contemporary dance, boys' dance, break dance and physical theatre.
Rebbecca Chamberlain, BSc Hons, PGCE
Teacher of Physical Education. Mrs Chamberlain has a personal interest in swimming, athletics and netball.
Tim Clarke, BSc Hons, PGCE
Teacher of Physical Education, IAG/Curriculum Development Manager, Whole School Enrichment lead teacher. Mr Clarke values the importance of physical education and sport in developing key leadership, social and employability skills. Mr Clarke is an extremely successful long and middle distance runner and has a special interest in athletics, tennis and football.
Edward Hatton
Mr Hatton is a part time PE Teacher. He has a special interest in football, badminton and athletics.
Phoebe Head, BA Hons, PGCE
Teacher of Dance. Miss Head has a specialism in contemporary dance, street dance, jazz, tap and modern.
Maddie Johnson
PE Teacher.
Stuart Tuck
Teacher of Physical Education. Mr Tuck is a former professional football player having played for Brighton and Hove Albion. Mr Tuck has coached football at high level including Whitehawk FC and Burgess Hill Town FC. He has a special interest in football, athletics, tennis and cricket.
Sam Whiteman, BSc Hons, PGCE
Teacher of Physical Education, Head of Angelou School. Mr Whiteman has a special interest in football and cricket.
We run an extensive programme of intra and inter-school opportunities throughout the year for all year groups across a variety of sports. To view the PE extra-curricluar activities please see the Extra-curricular, Enrichment and DofE page.
Football, rugby, netball, hockey, trampolining, indoor rock climbing, mountain biking, tennis, table tennis, basketball, cross country running, athletics, cricket, stoolball, rounders, badminton, fitness, swimming, see the Extra-curricular, Enrichment and DofE page for activities available.
