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Physical Education

  • Curriculum
  • Latest Sports Headlines
  • Sporting Achievements

The department aims to raise the aspirations of young people of all abilities and every social background by educating them to the highest measurable standards by providing them with a varied rich diet of activities and experiences.

The Physical Education Department at Macmillan Academy has a large number of sporting fixtures every week with up to 100 students regularly representing the Academy. The quantity of fixtures played enhances the development of our students both on and off the sports field and allows them to build relationships with staff and students from opposing schools.

The depth of the enrichment programme has allowed students to choose activities that they enjoy participating in and, in some cases, develop into high level performers.

Macmillan Academy Physical Education Department is one of the largest in the North East and was classed as “Excellent” by OFSTED in 2005, concluding that:

“Teaching and learning are very good and occasionally excellent. Enthusiastic, inspirational teaching motivates and inspires students to work hard.”

Full details of the Ofsted report can be found elsewhere on the Academy Website. Suffice to say that we are very proud of our educational and competitive successes.  The department offers coherent, academic, vocational and performance pathways that strongly support student progress.

The Physical Education Department at Macmillan Academy has reached an exciting phase in its development. The strength of the subject and its leaders has provided the Academy with the opportunity to gain specialisms in Physical Education/Outdoor Education and Science. We are actively involved in the Sports Colleges Network. This will allow the Academy and the department to continue to expand both in terms of curriculum content and facilities.

There are very strong academic and vocational pathways. The department runs the following courses.

Students have consistently achieved very high levels of success in local, regional and national competitions and also gain very high levels of attainment and achievement in GCSE PE, A Level Sport & PE, BTEC First and BTEC National Certificate in Sport.

Many students, particularly those studying BTEC courses, perform well above the grades in which they were targeted. Acheivement across KS4 and KS5 course is good.

Teaching and learning are strengths within the department. 90% of lessons observed by Ofsted were assessed as very good or excellent.

A direct result of the conversion to Academy status and the specialism in Outdoor Education and Physical Education has ensured that provision is outstanding. Key Stage 3 students receive three hours of Physical Education per week split into a 2 hour and a 1 hour lesson. Key Stage 4 students receive a 2 hour lesson each week.

Participation

Participation within PE lessons is compulsory.  If a student is injured or ill they are expected to bring a note with them explaining the problem, the note must be from a parent/guardian.  For more information please read the following document: Participation in Physical Education at Macmillan

Department Staff

In September 2009 the Department comprised of 12 full time staff and 2 part time members of staff, and 2 full time Physical Education technicians.

The large department is led and managed by the Physical Education and Sport, and is responsible for the development and delivery of sport and physical education within the Academy, as well as the Enrichment Programme and the Healthy Schools Initiative.  The Head of Department is responsible for all matters relating to staff performance, the Physical Education curriculum and content, the extra curricular programme and student’s learning.

As a successful department within the Academy, we aim to set the highest standards in curricular and extra curricular activities; this is achieved through a co-ordinated approach in a close knit team of staff. The members of staff are experienced and work well as a team spending time in Department meetings, on training and watching each other teach to provide the highest quality teaching and learning experiences.

The Department is supported in team games and other enrichment activities by many other non-specialist teachers who enable the delivery of an extensive range of sporting opportunities.

Name Position
Mr O Stanton Senior Leader
Miss S King Head of Physical Education & Sport
Mrs H Richardson Core PE Coordinator
Mr K Lane Academic Coordinator
Mrs C Alderson Applied Learning Coordinator
Mr S Coates Schools Sport Coordinator
Mr L Richardson Community & Excellence Coordinator / In charge of Rugby Academy
Miss A Gill Head of Year
Mr R Armstrong Head of Life Skills
Mr M Featherstone Physical Education Teacher
Mr T Atkinson Physical Education Teacher
Mrs J Weighell Physical Education Teacher
Mrs J Payne Physical Education Teacher
Mr S Richardson PE & Sport Assistant / Rugby Academy
Miss J Wilson PE & Sport Assistant
Miss J Emmerson Competitions Manager (Middlesbrough / Darlington)

Facilities and Resources

We are exceptionally well resourced in terms of facilities and equipment; exciting times lie ahead with future developments planned.  Currently we have the use of:

Recently developments opened in September 2007

We have also forged strong links with Goals Soccer Centre on Stockton Road. This facility is used for curricular and extra curricular teaching and provides 5 a side and 7 a side astro turf pitches for use during the day.

Under 19 Rugby Academy

The Academy runs a very successful Rugby Union Academy established in September 2003. Players receive 6 hours of timetabled lesson time each week and play competitive matches on Wednesday afternoon. They play in the North East College League, Durham County Cups / Tournaments and also enter the Daily Mail Cup.