SEHS (Sports, Exercise & Health Science)

Intent

The SEHS curriculum is designed to give students a scientific understanding of human movement, performance, and health. It combines principles from biology, biomechanics, psychology, and nutrition to explore how the body functions in physical activity and how performance can be optimised.

The course aims to develop analytical, evaluative, and practical skills while fostering an appreciation of the role of sport, exercise, and health in improving quality of life and promoting lifelong wellbeing.

Implementation

• Curriculum structure: 
  • Years 12 (KS5/IBDP): In Year 12, students begin with biomechanics and movement analysis, before progressing to the optimisation of performance through training, nutrition, psychology, and technology. They then consider the wider factors influencing performance, such as environment, injury, and sociocultural influences. 
  • Years 13 (KS5/IBDP): In Year 13, the focus shifts to physiological responses and adaptations to exercise, before moving on to the relationship between exercise and health across populations, preparing students for their final examinations. 
• Practical and applied learning: Students analyse real-life sports movements, design training plans, and evaluate case studies. Biomechanical principles and physiological responses are applied directly to sporting performance and health contexts. 
• Interdisciplinary connections: The curriculum integrates aspects of biology, psychology, and ethics to ensure students appreciate the complexity of performance and health in both scientific and social terms. 
• Preparation for assessment and beyond: Students develop research, data analysis, and evaluation skills, preparing them for exams while also equipping them with transferable skills for further study and careers in sport science, medicine, physiotherapy, and related fields.

Impact

• Students gain a holistic understanding of how the body moves, adapts, and performs, and the factors that influence these processes.
• They can apply scientific knowledge to real-world sporting and health scenarios, critically evaluating strategies for performance enhancement and wellbeing.
• Students develop practical and analytical skills, including biomechanical analysis, fitness testing, training design, and evaluation of health interventions.
• The curriculum promotes awareness of ethical, social, and cultural issues in sport and exercise, encouraging students to become informed, reflective, and responsible practitioners.
• By the end of the course, students are well-prepared for examinations and for progression into higher education or careers in sports science, health, medicine, or education.