Medium Term Plan - Athletics - GCSE

The medium-term plan for GCSE Athletics covers a comprehensive 10-lesson sequence aimed at Key Stage 4 students. The curriculum is designed to hone students' skills in isolation and then apply them across all athletic disciplines. The intent is to align students' abilities with GCSE assessment criteria, focusing on enhancing their performance through practice and reflection on personal bests related to speed, height, and distance. Additionally, the plan includes opportunities for students to coach and score/judge performances, which serve to deepen their understanding of athletics and develop leadership skills. The knowledge component of the plan ensures students grasp a variety of athletic skills, from sprinting and pacing to understanding their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as strategies for fitness improvement.

The skills section of the plan is rich with athletic techniques, including sprinting, pacing, starts, stride length, jumping, and throwing actions. The learning journey is meticulously sequenced to build upon skills acquired in Key Stage 3, encouraging students to replicate techniques within the rules of each event, make informed decisions, and provide feedback on their own and others' performances. Key concepts such as accurate replication of skills, developing physical and mental capacity, and problem-solving are central to the curriculum. Students are expected to evaluate their performances critically and use various tools, including ICT, to make improvements. The plan also emphasises personal development, discussing the importance of sportsmanship and the positive effects of regular exercise on health, fitness, and social well-being. The plan concludes by highlighting potential careers in the sports industry, thereby providing students with a broader perspective on the relevance of their athletic education.