KS4 PE Award – The why ?
The 2013 Ofsted PE report titled, Beyond 2012 – Outstanding physical education for all, recommended that the professional associations linked to PE develop a common strategy to support schools in assessing core PE in Key Stage 4. This is the primary function of PE Award. A KS4 skill and knowledge assessment tool to be used in core PE lessons to provide an end grade and make PE meaningful. Students will receive a final grade assessment and breakdown on GCSE results day and a certificate with their other GCSE and Btec certificates as a record of their achievement at KS4. There is also a KS5 version called PE Certificate running from Sept 2024.
The 2023 Ofsted research and analysis report ‘Levelling the playing field: the physical education subject report’ (gov.uk, 2023) makes reference to ks4 core PE not successfully aligning with the national curriculum (2013) expectations and core PE not being taught as well as the examination qualifications. Furthermore, the report stated ‘the compulsory key stage 4 PE curriculum lacks rigour, balance and depth’. The main theme of the report stated that examination courses were very well sequenced, planned for and delivered yet this was not the case for the mandatory core PE. The association for PE recommends allocating two hours per week to physical education, ‘An aspiration of a minimum two hours of transformative PE has been in place since 2014’ Sue Wilkinson MBE Afpe CEO said in 2023. (AfPE, 2023.) This was echoed in the Ofsted 2023 report (see item 51). This was also affirmed as a priority in the School Sport and Activity Action Plan (2023) They stated ‘This is why we are encouraging all schools to deliver a minimum of 2 hours’ PE time during the school day every week alongside equal access to sport for girls and boys.’ Yet a need for better school results in the past decade has led to more and more school leaders reducing the time in KS4 PE so that the students can be supported in core subjects (English, maths and science).
The aim of PE Award is to stop and hopefully reverse this trend. Sport in the UK is engrained into our societal traditions and values and exercise and sport form a large part of many people’s lives. We intend to encourage participation at KS4 and beyond by providing a high quality and well sequenced assessment framework which is a recognition of skill, knowledge and effort and therefore, creating a national standard in core PE to be used for years to come. This should be used in lesson time to limit the impact on teacher workload, but aims to give KS4 core PE meaning and a valid assessment methodology.
If you are interested in learning more bout PE Award please see the specificaiton part of the website, there is also a 2 page overview at the bottom of this page. The specification outlines all the information you need to make an informed choice as to whether this award will support your learners in your context. The overview below outlines the assessment methodology, moderation and submitting of grades.
Alternatively, if you want to register your school please download the registration form and complete it for all learners in the cohort to be assessed and email this to
Intent
Make key stage 4 core physical education valid, meaningful and important.
Aim
To provide a credible sports-based assessment tool that demonstrates the skill level, fitness, application of knowledge, attitude to learning (effort) and knowledge of health and well-being. With a longer-term aim of increasing participation and therefore embedding a lifelong affinity with sport.
This will be done by providing an assessment framework that encourages planning and teaching to be better aligned to the ambitions of the national curriculum.
With a longer-term aim of assessing a learners sporting ability and lifelong understanding of the benefits associated with a commitment to sport and exercise.
References
AfPE (2023). Avaliable at: Updated School Sport and Activity Action Plan & Refreshed Primary PE and Sport Premium Guidance - Association for Physical Education (afpe.org.uk)/ (Accessed January 2024).
Department for Education (2013). National Curriculum in England: PE programmes of study. Available at: National curriculum in England: PE programmes of study - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)/(Accessed January 2024).
Ofsted (2013) Beyond 2012 – outstanding physical education for all. Available at: Beyond 2012: outstanding physical education for all - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)/(Accessed January 2024).
Ofsted (2023) Levelling the playing field: the physical education subject report. Available at: Levelling the playing field: the physical education subject report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)/(Accessed January 2024).
School Sport and Activity Action Plan (2023) Available at: School Sport and Activity Action Plan (publishing.service.gov.uk)/ (Accessed March 2024).