Physical Education

Leaving Certificate Physical Education


LCPE has been rolled out this year (2023) at BCS with two classes of fifth year students.
The aim of Leaving Certificate Physical Education is to develop the learner’s capacity to become an informed, skilled, self-directed and reflective performer in physical education and physical activity in senior cycle and in their future life.

Objectives

The objectives of Leaving Certificate Physical Education are to develop the learner’s

  • performance in physical activity
  • ability to reflect on performance in physical activity
  • knowledge and understanding of the factors which influence performance and participation in physical activity
  • appreciation of the benefits of physical activity for lifelong health and wellbeing
  • capacity to undertake different roles in physical activities
  • understanding of the principles underlying ethical participation in physical activity

Assessment

Assessment consists of three components, namely a Performance Assessment (30%), Physical Activity Project (20%) & a Written Examination (50%).

Time Allocation for PE

  • 1st Year: 1 class* per week.
  • 2nd Year: 2 classes per week.
  • 3rd Year: 1 class period per week.
  • TY: 2 class periods per week.
  • 5th Year: 1 class period per week.
  • 5th LCA PE: 3&4 classes per week. Will rotate in 6th year.
  • 6th Year: 1 class period per week.

*A class period constitutes of 58 mins.

Grouping of Non-LC PE Students

All classes are mixed ability. Classes are usually taught in their own class groups but where two or more classes from the same year are timetabled together, teachers may mix the groups and divide them into two or three activities. These groups will then rotate between the activities.

PE Facilities

At Blackwater, we pride ourselves on our facilities. We possess a state of the art sports hall located beside 2 astro-turf pitches. Our new GAA pitch and fitness suite opened in September 2023. A P.E notice board lies in the main building exiting towards the P.E hall. We as a P.E. department continuously update these articles. We also store P.E. material (books, journals) in our library.

School Sports Day

The school Sports Day is a whole school event, with a full day’s activities organised for all year groups. For the last number of years the event has been timetabled around three locations:

  • Sports Field: field events, novelty races, penalty competitions, long puck, tug of war etc.
  • Sports Hall: Basketball, Handball, Volleyball and Uni-Hoc
  • Astroturf: Inflatables

Organisation of the day means that two year groups are rotationally timetabled at one location and supervision by teachers is organised by the Physical Education department. The day has proved to be a huge success and is frequently combined with the BCS Colour Run in the afternoon. The sports day generally runs from 08:45 until 12.30, with the Colour Run beginning at 1.30pm.