Physical Education

Physical education and sport teaches us a number of things. It teaches us about being a part of a team, the importance of working together to accomplish a common goal. We learn to shoulder personal responsibility, and how to cope with defeat and failure. It teaches how to remain focused on a task for the period of time required to achieve it. We learn about consistency and concentration, how to overcome weaknesses, and go beyond our limits.

The Tonbridge P.E. department was re-established in 2009 in the new Tonbridge Sports and Media Centre. All boys study Physical Education for their first two years at Tonbridge. The aims of the P.E lessons are to compliment our games programme, provide boys with the opportunity to try new sports (including badminton, basketball, volleyball, waterpolo and swimming) and also help them gain a greater understanding of how to use the gym facilities at the school in a safe and constructive manner.

Physical Education is offered as an A level subject, the department follows the AQA AS and A level course. The course is multidimensional with a variety of transferable skills and subject areas:

• The applied anatomy and physiology elements place significant academic demands on a student. PE combines well with a number of other subjects especially Biology.
• For strong, developing sportsmen, the course will give them the knowledge to allow them to analyse their own performances and work out ways to improve them.
• Students will develop a wide knowledge of how exercise and nutrition contribute to personal well-being.
• Studying Sports Science at University is now a popular and competitive choice. A level PE provides gives a good grounding and makes candidates attractive to Universities.
• There are a number of careers which PE A Level can open doors to including sports administrators, sports doctors and physiotherapists.

It covers the disciplines of exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor control and sports psychology, all of which address many of the issues underpinning the questions of the participant, coach or professional.

Facilities

The P.E. department is based in the new Tonbridge School Centre, which includes a stunning Sportshall, fully equipped gym and 25 metre swimming pool. The centre also houses the schools' media centre which allows boys and staff the opportunity to analyse student's performance in a number of sports using the latest video analysis software.

• Find out more about the Tonbridge School Centre