A teacher's guide to the new QCAA Senior Physical Education syllabus changes

A guide to the new QCAA Physical Education General Senior Syllabus

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A change is coming for Queensland senior secondary schooling.

Senior Physical Education in Queensland is changing to help students develop 21st-century skills and knowledge for success in their future work and life. You can trust our expert Queensland authors and award-winning publishing team to support you with the tools and resources you need to help you implement the new Queensland Senior Physical Education syllabus.

The changes to Queensland Senior Physical Education affect all aspects of teaching and learning – new teaching content, new course structure and a new approach to assessment.

What does the new QCAA Physical Education General Senior Syllabus look like?

Physical Education
Unit Syllabus content Assessment Assessment method
Unit 1 Motor learning, functional anatomy, biomechanics and physical activity
  • Topic 1: Motor learning integrated with a selected physical activity
    Notional hours: 22

  • Topic 2: Functional anatomy and biomechanics integrated with a selected physical activity
    Notional hours: 33
  • At least two but no more than four formative internal assessments are required over Units 1 and 2.

  • Each Unit objective must be assessed at least once.
  • At least two categories of physical activity must be selected in Units 1 and 2.

    Students should have opportunities in Units 1 and 2 to experience and respond to the types of assessment they will encounter in Units 3 and 4.
    Unit 2 Sport psychology, equity and physical activity
    • Topic 1: Sport psychology integrated with a selected physical activity
      Notional hours: 33

    • Topic 2: Equity – barriers and enablers
      Notional hours: 22
  • At least two but no more than four formative internal assessments are required over Units 1 and 2.

  • Each Unit objective must be assessed at least once.
  • At least two categories of physical activity must be selected in Units 1 and 2.

    Students should have opportunities in Units 1 and 2 to experience and respond to the types of assessment they will encounter in Units 3 and 4.
    Unit 3 Tactical awareness, ethics and integrity and physical activity
    • Topic 1: Tactical awareness integrated with one selected ‘Invasion’ or ‘Net and court’ physical activity
      Notional hours: 33

    • Topic 2: Ethics and integrity
      Notional hours: 22
    Summative internal assessment
    1. Project ‒ folio (25%)
    2. Investigation ‒ report (20%)
    Unit 4 Energy, fitness and training and physical activity
    • Topic 1: Energy, fitness and training integrated with one selected ‘Invasion’, ‘Net and court’ or ‘Performance’ physical activity
      Notional hours: 55
    Summative internal assessment
    1. Project ‒ folio (30%)

    Summative external assessment:

    Examination ‒ combination response (25%)

    Source: © Physical Education 2019 v1.0, QCAA General Senior Syllabus, Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority November 2017

    Students studying the Senior Physical Education syllabus from 2019 will:

    develop the skills for success in their future work and life

    engage in a range of physical activities to develop movement sequences and strategies

    learn how body and movement concepts, sociocultural and psychological concepts are relevant to physical activity

    determine the psychological barriers and enablers that influence performance and engagement in physical activity

    develop an awareness of and understand how ethical behaviour can affect performance in physical activity

    explore energy, fitness and training concepts and principles

    The basics

    To successfully implement the new Senior Physical Education syllabus, there are three basic points to be aware of:

    1

    The new course is made up of four units of study to be taught over two years (i.e. Units 1 and 2 to be taught in Year 11 and Units 3 and 4 to be taught in Year 12). Students should complete Units 1 and 2 before beginning Unit 3. It is recommended that Unit 3 be completed before Unit 4.

    2

    Units 1 and 2 have students working across all syllabus objectives and beginning to engage with the course subject matter. The teaching of Units 3 and 4 consolidates students’ learning. Subject matter, learning experiences and assessment increases in complexity from Units 1 through to 4 as students develop independent learning.

    3

    Only the results from Units 3 and 4 will contribute to ATAR calculations. Each unit has been developed to a notional time of 55 hours of teaching and learning, including assessment.

    Meet our expert author team for Physical Education for Queensland (2nd edition)

    Crystal Hede

    Author

    Crystal Hede has been the Head of Health and Physical Education at The Glennie School, Toowoomba, for over 10 years. She has lead curriculum change and held the position of IT mentor, supporting the broader staff body in the implementation of technology to enhance teaching and learning. She has also been a district panellist for Senior Physical Education.

    Kate Russell

    Author

    Kate Russell has taught Health and Physical Education in Queensland for 14 years and until recently was Head of Department at St Saviour’s College in Toowoomba where she taught since 2007. As a member of the Toowoomba District review panel, Kate has contributed to the development of the Physical Education syllabus over many years. Kate now specialises in the field of child behaviour, psychology and development, working to help parents and educators build positive relationships with the children in their care.

    Ron Weatherby

    Author

    Ron Weatherby has been a Health and Physical Education teacher for over 30 years and has been Head of Department at Lockyer District State High since 1997. Ron has been involved with Senior Physical Education curriculum development at all levels since 1995, acting as a panellist, district review panel chair and state member over this time. Ron was also a member of the review panel for the new Senior PE Syllabus and is currently presenting at workshops and developing resources for its implementation in 2019.

    Monique Brennan

    Author

    Monique Brennan is an experienced Health and Physical Education teacher and Head of Department who has taught across a range state and Catholic schools. Monique led the implementation of the Australian Curriculum: HPE for Brisbane Catholic Education, providing guidance and support for teachers. Monique is passionate about the lifelong positive effects of quality health and physical education and currently leads Middle Years Curriculum at Carmel College in Brisbane.

    Wayne Gore

    Author

    Wayne Gore is the Head of Physical Education at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in Brisbane. He is a committed educator with over 20 years’ teaching experience. Wayne is a management committee member with ACHPER Australia Queensland Branch and has also worked as a Panel Member, QCAA Endorsement Assessor (trial).



    Ben Williams

    Author

    Ben Williams is a Lecturer in Health and Physical Education in the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University. He is a member of the QCAA's State Review Panel for Physical Education and has been a member of many health and physical education industry advisory panels. He is also President of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation's Queensland Branch (ACHPER QLD). Before completing his PhD and joining Griffith University, Ben was a Health and Physical Education teacher at The Gap State High School in Brisbane.

    What is Oxford publishing for the new QCAA Physical Education General Senior Syllabus?

    The publishing team at Oxford is currently working with expert Queensland authors to deliver high-quality resources directly mapped to the new syllabus. These include:

    Physical Education for Queensland
    Units 1 & 2 (2nd edition)

    Physical Education for Queensland Units 1 & 2 2E Student book + obook assess

    • Print student book with digital access

    Physical Education for Queensland Units 1 & 2 2E obook assess

    • Digital student access (12 months access)

    Physical Education for Queensland Units 1 & 2 2E Teacher obook assess

    • Digital teacher access

    Institutional purchases
    Please contact your Education Consultant if your school purchases resources on behalf of students and requires multi-year digital subscriptions. If your school has a different model, ask your Education Consultant about purchase options.

    Physical Education for Queensland
    Units 3 & 4 (2nd edition)

    Physical Education for Queensland Units 3 & 4 2E Student book + obook assess

    • Print student book with digital access

    Physical Education for Queensland Units 3 & 4 2E obook assess

    • Digital student access (12 months access)

    Physical Education for Queensland Units 3 & 4 2E Teacher obook assess

    • Digital teacher access

    Institutional purchases
    Please contact your Education Consultant if your school purchases resources on behalf of students and requires multi-year digital subscriptions. If your school has a different model, ask your Education Consultant about purchase options.

    Why choose Oxford QLD Senior Physical Education resources?

    Our Senior Physical Education resources are designed to work for you in the classroom. They will:

    provide learning pathways that ensure complete coverage of the syllabus

    clearly model approaches to inquiry learning and critical thinking

    provide detailed support and resources for assessment (including exam preparation and practice)

    All these features are designed to save you time when lesson planning, reduce the stress of syllabus implementation and ensure the best learning outcomes for your students.

    From January 2019, senior secondary syllabuses in Queensland will change to support the introduction of new assessment and tertiary entrance systems. As teachers across Queensland prepare for this significant change, the Secondary team at Oxford will be busy collaborating with local teachers and educators to create a range of world-class teaching and learning materials. Our goal is to make implementation of the new systems as smooth and stress-free as possible for you.

    –The Secondary Publishing Team at Oxford University Press

    As Secondary Publisher of the Year 2017, 2018 and 2019 Oxford University Press is committed to helping teachers and students in Queensland reach their full potential.

    Register for QLD Senior Syllabus updates from Oxford and receive:

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