Physical Education

At Alder Community High School, the PE department aims to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, providing students with the knowledge, skills and understanding to continue with an active and healthy lifestyle after leaving school either through recreational physical activity or by continuing with competitive sport.

We aim to offer all students the opportunity to participate in at least two hours of Physical Activity each week through our curriculum and our comprehensive extra-curricular provision.

Physical Education is proven to improve self confidence, self discipline, concentration and it also encourages the development of leadership and team work skills. It also leads young people into healthier lifestyles. There is increasing evidence that high quality PE and school sport leads to better attendances, behaviour and attitudes towards learning. Therefore, we believe that PE at Alder Community High School contributes in raising whole school standards.

The PE department is always trying to improve the range of activities on offer to the students. This should encourage greater participation and enjoyment.  With regards to ‘Every Child Matters’, all Students currently have access to The Public Service Agreement of 2 hours of high quality PE a week, either through the curriculum or our extensive extra-curricular provision. To ensure that the aims are successfully implemented the department regularly reviews its practice through the self evaluation process. This vigorous process will ensure that the development plan targets are met.

Here at Alder, our Physical Activity and Sports provision is based around our students being able to:

• Show commitment.
• Understand what they are doing.
• Are active and healthy.
• Show confidence.
• Develop their skills.
• Take part in different activities.
• Think for themselves.
• Are keen to improve.
• Develop strength, suppleness and stamina.
• Enjoy what they do.

In addition to our curriculum, we also provide opportunities for our students in other ways.  We have a wide range of Sports Teams representing our school, including, Boys and Girls Football, Netball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Hockey, Rounders, Badminton, Cricket, Rugby, Indoor and outdoor athletics, Cross-Country, Cheerleading Trampolining and Table Tennis.
Through our Sports Council, which links to our Sports Houses, we provide many opportunities for our students to develop their leadership skills.  At Year 10, students may opt to study on the Junior Sports Leaders Award as an additional qualification.  Talented leaders are given the chance to work in Multi-Skills clubs at four local Primary Schools.

Our Gifted and Talented Students are studying for our ‘Sporting Challenge’, providing early access to our GCSE course.  We organise annual trips to local and National Centres of Excellence for our Gifted and Talented students.  We also provide our students with Physical impairments the opportunity to access all aspects of our curriculum, where possible, whilst providing a pathway for talented disabled performers to access local competition in Tameside and Greater Manchester.
In addition to this, we organise and are involved in the following annual excursions:

• Watersports Trip to the  Ardeche Gorge in France
• Football and Netball Sports Festival Trip to  Barcelona, Spain.
• Skiing Trip to various European destinations.