In Physical Education at Sheldon, opportunities are provided for pupils to :

a) develop techniques and skills in a range of sporting, expressive, gymnastic and leisure activities

b) acquire knowledge (rules, strategies etc.) about the activities

c) develop a positive and knowledgeable attitude towards fitness and health

d) receive education for leisure through knowledge and understanding of self- chosen activities

e) develop social relationships through opportunities for co-operative activity and the development of tolerant attitudes

f) work within a safe and secure environment where they can feel confident to experience failure and achieve success

g) develop qualities of determination, conscientiousness, consistency, fairness and honesty

h)     enjoy themselves.

The following sports are played at Sheldon:  rugby, football, hockey, netball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, cricket, athletics, rounders, tennis, badminton, gymnastics, trampolining, cross-country and outdoor pursuits (orienteering, canoeing, climbing, health-related exercise and fitness).

The time allocated to the major individual and team sports in the formal curriculum and beyond (including the opportunities to play sport outside formal hours in the evenings and at weekends) is provided in the table below.  It should be noted that these represent minimum timings since involvement after school in extra-curricular sport will increase the allocation considerably.

Key Stage 3      150 minutes per week

Sport	Girls (hours)	Boys (hours)
Netball	45	-
Hockey	45	12
Rugby	-	45
Soccer	5	45
Basketball	10	30
Badminton	10	15
Volleyball	5	-
Gymnastics	40	30
Health-Related Exercise/Fitness	10	5
Cricket	10	50
Athletics	30	20
Rounders	20	-
Softball	-	5
Cross Country	7	7
Ball Skills	5	-

Key Stage 4   100 minutes per week

Activities are directed for the first 12 weeks of the course as follows : Girls : 7 hours Netball; 7 hours Hockey; 3 hours Trampolining; 3 hours Soccer. Boys : 7 hours Rugby; 7 hours Soccer; 3 hours Hockey; 3 hours Volleyball. All pupils take a practical leisure studies course at the local leisure centre (7 hours) All other modules are option-based.  Pupils select from the following: hockey, netball, soccer, rugby, basketball, volleyball, badminton, trampolining, athletics, cricket, rounders and softball.  These are mixed activities except for soccer, rugby and cricket, which are offered to boys and girls as single-sex options.  Modules for each of these activities last for approximately 10 hours.

Sports and Activities Facilities

The school enjoys the use of the following in the delivery of its sporting curriculum:  Sports Hall, Gymnasium, Dance Studio, 8 hard tennis courts/5 netball courts, new floodlit Astroturf pitch, and extensive playing fields including spaces for rugby, hockey, football and  rounders.  In addition there are two cricket squares and fitness room. The school also runs successful GCSE and A-Level PE courses.

The 8 full-time PE faculty staff have formal qualifications in the following areas in addition to their basic teaching qualifications :

Football	FA Preliminary and Intermediate Coaching
Rugby	RFU Preliminary Coaching
Hockey	HA Preliminary and HA Teachers' Award
Netball	AENA Umpires' Award and AENA Level 1 Coaching
Basketball	EBBA Teachers' and Referees' Awards
Badminton	Leaders' Award
Tennis	LTA teachers' certificate and coaching
Athletics	AAA's Sprints Coach, Womens' AAA Coach and Club
	Gymnastic BAGA Club Coach and BAGA Teachers' Certificate
Trampolining	BTF Coach 1 Award
Swimming	ASA Teachers' Award
Skiing	Ski Course Organisers' Award Part 2
Rock Climbing	Single Pitch Supervisor (training) and Wiltshire
	LEA-Approved Course
Mountaineering	MLTB (summer) training and MLTB (winter) Introductory
	Certificate
Canoeing	Wiltshire LEA-approved course
Camping	Wiltshire LEA-approved course

Specialist coaches are involved in the coaching of all major sports including cricket and rugby. PE staff coach county rugby and football teams and are also heavily involved in the Swindon Town centre of footballing excellence. Parental support is encouraged and received for other major games including the above.

The school's PE faculty has close links with all of the major sporting clubs and associations in the area. In July 2000 the school was awarded the prestigious SportsMark GOLD award by the Sports Council and the Department for Education and Skills in recognition of its sporting excellence. This was re-awarded in 2004. The school has also gained Charter Standard status from the Football Association in recognition of the quality of football delivered.