Physical Education
Physical Education at St Catherine’s is an important and well-regarded aspect of school life. Physical Education does not only help girls to develop their talents, but also to promote a healthy lifestyle, but the values of commitment, resilience, discipline, dedication, teamwork, leadership, challenge, respect, perseverance, balance and time management, friendships and memories are all developed over time.
Our aims:
- To involve all girls in physical activity in order to develop a knowledge and understanding of a variety of sports.
- To create an environment where the girls will enjoy participation in physical activity and so foster a desire for activity in leisure.
- To assist the girls in the development and maintenance of an appropriate level of fitness.
- The sports included in the curriculum are Lacrosse, Netball, Swimming, Gymnastics, Health Related Fitness, Cross-Country, Cricket, Tennis and Athletics.
- We also offer a wider range of activities in the 5th and 6th form as well as GCSE, AS and A level.
Staff List
Mrs Nancy Moore - Director of Sport
email: nancy.moore@stcatherines.info
Nancy completed BA Hons in Sport and Human Movement Studies at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff. She then went onto her PGCE at the University of Southampton. Nancy joined St Catherine’s in September 2000. In the past she has been involved in tutoring as part of Merriman House but now focuses on being the Director of Sport at St Catherine's specialising in the individual sports, as well as teaching A-Level PE and being the Australian Exchange Co-ordinator. Outside school, Nancy spends her time with her two children, competing in triathlons and loves skiing and travelling.
Miss Arabella Pearson, Assistant Director of Sport, Lacrosse Specialist
email: arabella.pearson@stcatherines.info
Arie completed a BSc in Sports Coaching and Science at Loughborough University and completed her ITT at St Catherine’s and is currently in her NQT year. During Arie’s time at Loughborough she played Lacrosse for the women’s 1st team and represented Wales at the 2015 U19 World Cup. Arie is a St Cats Alumna who also spent her gap year in the PE Department so knows the school very well! Outside of School and Lacrosse Arie enjoys running, traveling and spending time with her friends.
Miss Emily Gray, Head of Lacrosse (currently on Sabbatical)
email: emily.gray@stcatherines.info
Emily completed a BSc in Sports Science with Management at Loughborough University. She then went on to complete her GTP at Berkhamsted School, where she then worked for 6 years. She has represented England since she was 14, playing in an U19 World Cup, winning a bronze medal in 2007, 2 x Senior World Cups and 2 x European Champions winning 2 gold medals. Emily continues to play for Senior England and has aspirations of achieving more in her England career. In her own time she enjoys spending time with her friends, travelling and socialising.
Miss Ellie Curtis, Head of Netball
email: ellie.curtis@stcatherines.info
Ellie studied Physical Education BA (Hons) and her PGCE at the University of Brighton. Ellie has recently returned from a year of travelling in which she spent a lot of time in Australia and New Zealand. Ellie has always had a passion for Netball and was fortunate enough to play and coach Netball whilst in Australia. In her free time, Ellie enjoys playing Netball and Lacrosse and spending time exploring different countries. Ellie is looking forward to starting at St Catherine’s and working with such an experienced PE department.
Miss Natasha Dale, Netball & Lacrosse specialist (Acting Head of Lacrosse)
email: natasha.dale@stcatherines.info
Natasha studied Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at the University of Birmingham, where she also captained the 1st Lacrosse Team. She is completing her teacher training at St Catherine’s, and is an alumna to the school, so knows it very well. Her main roles within the school will be Lacrosse and Netball. Natasha is also the current Head Coach for the Italian U20 National team. She enjoys playing lacrosse and netball, alongside travelling and spending time with her family and friends.
Mrs Lorraine Kowalewska, Netball specialist
email: lorraine.kowalewska@stcatherines.info
Lorraine studied Primary Education with Physical Education at Roehampton University. She has also been a level 2 netball coach since 2012 and is in the process of completing her Level 3 netball coaching qualification. She has coached netball for over ten years and coaches the U16 age group for the Superleague Franchise Surrey Storm based at Surrey Sports Park. Her sporting highlight was playing in the Fast Five Netball tournament in 2018 at Copper Box in London with Sharni Layton in her team (she is an amazing defender and ex-international Australian GK). Alongside teaching she is the assistant 6th Form Boarding Housemistress and her husband and daughters live with her in boarding. They all really enjoy the community feel, particularly making use of the amazing facilities at school.
Miss Krystyna Sawicki, Netball specialist
email: krystyna.sawicki@stcatherines.info
Krystyna completed her BSc (Hons) in Physical Education in the Secondary Years at the University of Chichester. Whilst at University Krystyna captained the 1st Netball Team as well as being selected for the English Universities Team in 2018, where she was given the opportunity to play alongside current England and Superleague players. Krystyna currently plays for the Downs Regional Netball team with the hope to advance to the Premier League team. Alongside netball, Krystyna regularly goes to the gym and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Miss Tamsyn White, Netball specialist
email: tamsyn.white@stcatherines.info
Tamsyn studied Physical Education and Teaching with QTS at University of Chichester. St Catherine’s is her first school in which she has taught, joining in September 2012. Tamsyn played netball for her University 1st Team throughout her degree and currently plays for Sussex NRG in the Regional League and the un-defeated Staff Netball Team! In her spare time, Tamsyn enjoys snowboarding, travelling and spending time with friends and family.
Mrs Vic Alexander, Lacrosse specialist
email: vic.alexander@stcatherines.info
Vic studied Physical Education and Mathematics at the University of Brighton (Chelsea PE College). St Catherine's is her third school in which she has taught, joining in September 2001. She represented England in lacrosse for over ten years; her career highlight was playing in the World Cup in 2001 where the team achieved a bronze medal. Vic has also run three London marathons achieving a PB in 2012 of 3:49. Vic is very competitive and loves winning! She is still involved in lacrosse, tennis, running and netball. She also enjoys reading, socialising and spending time with humorous people!! Vic is also Head of Sixth Form Boarding.
Miss Lucy Halliday, Lacrosse Specialist
email: lucy.halliday@stcatherines.info
Lucy studied Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (BSc) at Brunel University and later went on to complete her PGCE in Secondary PE at the University of Brighton. Lucy was captain of the Brunel Lacrosse 1st team and continues to play for Guildford Gators.
Lucy was with us briefly in 2021, and then went on to work at Caterham School for a year where she coached her team to a National Championship title. Lucy has now returned to St Catherine’s as a Musgrave tutor and will also be re-joining the residence team, where she can often be found in the Keller boarding house. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends, going to the beach and traveling.
Mr Brucie Morris
email: brucie.morris@stcatherines.info
Brucie studied Biomedical Sciences at University College London, where he was the President of the UCLU Lacrosse Club and began the men’s team whilst there. He began his girls’ school coaching career in 2015 and was the head coach at Oxford University 2017-2019. Brucie is an internationally rated women’s lacrosse official and has officiated at 3 European Championships and 2 World Championships. Alongside teaching he is the assistant Chemistry lab technician. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing and trying any sport his friends also enjoy, including netball!
Mr Alan Mezzetti, Tennis Coach
email: alan.mezzetti@stcatherines.info
Alan completed a BA Hons in Sport and Leisure Management at New Buckinghamshire University. Holding a level 4 LTA coaching qualification, he then spent eight years at the The Harbour Club Chelsea, running the tennis programme for 1000 juniors and 500 adults, alongside coordinating a team of 25 tennis pros and delivering coaching himself. Having spent a further six at the LTA in a range of roles, he has spent the last few years coaching both at Cranleigh senior school and Longacre preparatory school. Outside of tennis, Alan holds a level 3 personal training qualification, an FA coaching qualification and coaches three football teams at Cranleigh Youth Football Club. Beyond work, he loves time spent with his wife and three children, either just in the local area or heading to the beach on holiday, to try to improve his surfing!
Mr Alex Fox
email: alex.fox@stcatherines.info
Alex is the current Sussex Men’s County Captain playing in and managing the team. He used to play full time nationally and internationally as a junior before turning his attention to coaching since 2018 and he hasn’t looked back since! He holds a level 3 tennis coaching qualification, as well as being a LTA R4 referee running local-regional level competitions. In his coaching career he has coached at numerous clubs in Sussex, with his most recent role being the head coach at Billingshurst Lawn Tennis Club. He also has coached at Dorset House and Windlesham House schools, and has played an active role in county training for juniors being the vice captain for various junior teams.
As well as his role at St Catherine’s he currently coaches at Roedean School, Bluecoat Sports and primary schools and houses in the area as well as running tournament programmes at Surrey Sports Park and Portsmouth Grammar School. Outside of work he loves spending time with his partner and 2 children, mainly running around local petting zoos with their love of animals!
Miss Joanna Paish, Individual Sports Specialist
email: joanna.paish@stcatherines.info
Jo studied Physical Education with QTS at the University of Brighton (Chelsea PE College). She joined St Catherine’s in 2018 and is enjoying working with such a diverse team of staff. Jo loves to represent the schools individual sporting athletes as well as the team sports including: Gymnastics, Trampolining, Cross-Country, Golf and Swimming. Jo is also the Assistant Boarding Housemistress for Symes. In the summer of 2021 Jo walked the length of the River Thames in 8 days with her twin sister to raise money for charity. Jo also enjoys reading, watching movies and traveling, having recently completed the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.
Mrs Emily McWilliam, Swimming Specialist
email: emily.mcwilliam@stcatherines.info
Emily studied a BA Hons in secondary Physical Education with qualified teacher status at the University of Chichester. She enjoys all sports both team and individual, but has a particular interest in swimming. Emily is an active member of the English schools swimming association South East region. She organises local and regional galas, as well as coaching the school teams in the competitions. She is also the team manager for the South East team, coaching the top swimmers from the region against the rest of the country. Emily loves to spend time with her family but can also be found enjoying the Guildford Flames ice hockey team, swimming, tennis, skiing, The Duke of Edinburgh award as a leader/assessor and travelling.
Miss Gayle Vickers, Swimming Specialist
Gayle coaches swimming to all Senior girls and also the Prep School swimming squads. She studied music at the University of Warwick (BA QTS) while also taking her Personal Training examinations up to Level 3 and full swimming coaching qualifications. In her spare time she loves walking Guincho her very needy cockapoo, learning the drums and playing her trumpet in the school jazz band! Some of her sporting highlights include: Lacrosse: representing England U18, U21, and Senior level in Lacrosse for over 12 years and received a Junior and Full Cap. Triathlon: Since 2010 representing GB in her age group in Triathlon at the European and World Championships and also in the 70.3 Ironman World Championships. In 2014 she was British Champion for her age group in the Sprint distance, was 5th in the European Championships in Austria (2014) and also Geneva (2015). In the World Championships in New Zealand and London gained a top 10 placing. Gladiators : In 2008, I competed in the television version of Gladiators; selected to be a contestant out of over 80,000 people and reaching the semi-finals of the show.
Mrs Helen Harkness, Gym & Dance Specialist
Helen is also the Boarding Housemistress of Symes House.
email: helen.harkness@stcatherines.info
Helen completed her BEd Hons in Physical Education at Chichester University (previously West Sussex Institute of Higher Education). Prior to joining St Catherine’s she was a Head of Department teaching both PE and GCSE Dance, before moving her career into pastoral management. Helen has a duly role at St Catherine’s along side PE teaching she lives on site and runs the Year 9 Boarding House. She has a passion for skiing and running and enjoys watching and taking part in musical theatre and dance. Helen loves recreational sport and the simple joy of being involved.
Curriculum - AS/A Level
Examination Board: OCR
Why study Physical Education?
Studying PE gives you an insight into all theoretical concepts of the sport you play. It covers the physiology, psychology, biomechanics and sociology aspects of sport and provides an in depth understanding of how to improve your own, and others’, performance. It is a well-respected subject, combining positively with other Science and Arts A Levels.
Course Content
AS: Focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the body, exercise physiology, biomechanics, including technology in sport, how the mind interprets and develops sports skills, the teaching and learning of skills, the social issues in sport such as drugs etc. and a look at other countries in comparison with the UK, in achieving excellence. The Practical looks at your skill in one sport and evaluating and assessing others’ performance for improvement.
A Level: Extends knowledge within applied anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, skill acquisition, sports psychology, sport and society, contemporary issues in physical activity and sport. The Practical focuses on performance or coaching, demonstrating skill and tactical awareness in competitive situations in one sport, as well as evaluating and assessing others’ performance for improvement.
Assessment
- AS: 2 x 1hour 15min written paper (70%), practical (30%)
- A Level: 1 x 2 hour written paper, 2 x 1 hour written paper (70%), practical (30%)
Coursework Requirements:
- AS - Practical assessment in one sport + EAPI
- A-Level - Practical assessment in one sport + EAPI
Curriculum - GCSE
Examination Board: AQA
GCSE Topics:
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Anatomy & Physiology
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Movement analysis
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Individual Differences
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The Demands of Performance
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Fatigue/Stress
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Injury
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The difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise
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Characteristics and benefits of leisure and recreation
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Health, fitness and a healthy active lifestyle
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Training
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Aspects of training
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Diet
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Psychology
For June 2021, the GCSE practical option will be for two sports only.