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Physical Education

Physical Education and Sport has a key role in the development of students at the Langton.  As well as the obvious physical benefits the department prides itself in imparting many of the Langton Attributes such as Fortitude, Integrity, Respect and Creativity.  We also play a key role in nurturing the leaders of tomorrow and developing the teamwork skills to equip the students for life beyond the Langton.

Physical Education and Games provide an integrated course with a balance between individual and group activities being provided, as shown below.  Students are ‘setted’ early in the year and all activities are compulsory.

Our facilities are some of the best found not just in the states sector but also compare well with fee paying schools.  The school boasts a 3G pitch with video analysis system, a 25m indoor pool, an indoor sports hall, a climbing wall, a fitness suite and strength and conditioning facility as well as several high quality grass pitches.  In addition, offsite facilities are used such as Polo Farm and Canterbury Squash Club.  There is a full fixture list of school matches, often at ‘A’ and ‘B’.  And students have the opportunity to go on several sports tours.  Recent tours include, Rugby in France, Hockey in Holland, Football in America and Cricket in Barbados.  There are also a range of other extra-curricular clubs including athletics, climbing, badminton, squash, and basketball.  We feel that competition is important for all of our students and inter-house matches are arranged in all sports, involving all students, and the annual Sports Day is held in July.

Sport at KS5 (Year 12)

Physical Education and Sport has a key role in the development of students at the Langton. As well as the obvious physical benefits the department prides itself in imparting many of the Langton Attributes such as Fortitude, Integrity, Respect and Creativity. We also play a key role in nurturing the leaders of tomorrow and developing the teamwork skills to equip the students for life beyond the Langton.

Our facilities are some of the best found not just in the state sector but also compare well with fee-paying schools. The school boasts a 3G pitch with video analysis system, a 25m indoor pool, an indoor sports hall, a climbing wall, a fitness suite and strength and conditioning facility as well as several high quality grass pitches. In addition, offsite facilities are used such as Polo Farm and Canterbury Squash Club. There is a full fixture list of school matches and students have the opportunity to go on several sports tours. Recent tours include, Rugby in France, Hockey in Holland, Football in America and Cricket in Barbados.

Sport is an important aspect of the Year 12 curriculum and a wide range of activities are on offer throughout the year.  You will be given the opportunity to choose a sporting option at the beginning of each term from an extensive list of activities.  During your non-contact periods you will be able to use our well-equipped gym to develop your personal fitness. 

Serious sports players will have the opportunity to represent the school in competitive interschool fixtures in a variety of sports.  We currently run boys’ senior teams in rugby, football, hockey, cricket and basketball, and girls’ senior teams in netball, hockey and rugby.  We also enter senior teams for golf, athletics and swimming. We take girls’ sport very seriously and have recently appointed a Head of Girls’ Games dedicated to running the girls’ programme.  Those unable to secure regular places in senior teams may still find a stage on which to display their prowess during the inter-house sports competitions.  These matches are among the most fiercely contested fixtures of the year.

Working in partnership with Canterbury Academy we are able offer Elite Sport Provision in Rugby, Hockey, Basketball and Cricket.  These sessions will be timetabled daily and provide students with access to Elite coaching, facilities and competition.  We are also currently developing a similar programme for Athletics.

In addition, a number of Sixth form students assist PE staff with junior pupils in various activities, particularly climbing, on a peer tutoring basis during curriculum time, and there are opportunities to assist in clubs after school and at lunchtime.

It is hoped that through this wide range of activities you will not only appreciate the importance of a healthy lifestyle, but also identify a recreational pursuit you may enjoy when you leave school.

Building on our long tradition of sporting excellence and the development of our Elite Sport Academies, we are very pleased to be offering Advanced Level Physical Education and Sport to students entering our senior school.

OCR’s Advanced level GCE in Physical Education seeks to develop the student’s knowledge, understanding, skills and application for physical education and sport.

This specification is a refreshing and innovative approach to the study of Physical Education (PE) and sport at an advanced level. Students will develop an understanding of how sports science can be used to enhance their own performance.

Course content – over the two years students will study:

Sports Physiology and Biomechanical Movement: This unit is divided into two subject areas: the first delves into the science behind the musculo-skeletal, cardio-respiratory and neuromuscular systems. Other topics you will study include energy systems, principles of training, nutrition and health components of fitness. The second area looks at biomechanical movement which includes an analysis of human movement and focuses on Newton’s Laws and lever systems.

Sports Psychology and Skill Acquisition: In Year 12, students will develop a knowledge and understanding of how athletes acquire and develop movement skills and use guidance/feedback to aid performance. The Year 13 course is more focused on how group dynamics can affect performance and how elite sports performers mentally prepare for exercise by using the attribution theory and stress management techniques.

History of Sport and Contemporary Sporting Issues: Students will learn about the development of sport in the United Kingdom and how it has influenced society and sporting cultures today, as well as contemporary issues such as sponsorship, media, drugs and violence in sport. Students will also look at the enhanced use of technology in sports performance.

Practical Aspect: The fundamental ethos for this unit is to engage participants in two tasks. Students will be assessed as a performer or coach in their favourite sport (check the OCR website for the list of possible sports), where we expect students to be competing on a weekly basis. In addition, students will observe the performance of an individual, provide verbal analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, and create a development plan to improve their performance.

This course should not be considered as an easy option (70% theory based). The course demands a high level of commitment to sport (30% practical based). Success in Advanced Level Physical Education and Sport will provide a stepping stone to higher education and/or to a career in the ever-expanding sport and leisure industry. In recent years, a number of students have gone on to study Sport Science, Physical Education and Strength and Conditioning at a number of prestigious universities including Loughborough and Exeter. Sport and Physical Education is widely recognised by the top universities as a science subject and may also complement the study of other Advanced Level subjects, particularly the sciences.