core task chart aw 22/3/06 8:10 pm Page 2

Using core tasks to track pupils’

progress in physical education

What are core tasks?

The core tasks in the QCA/DfES • have been written so that pupils can How do core tasks relate to the
schemes of work for physical education visualise a task – they know what it national curriculum?
(PE) give pupils an opportunity to use looks like and what to aim for
improving pe
what they have learnt in an authentic
• enable teachers to recognise and g and rf o
context that is suitably challenging for ti n rm
validate pupils’ progress. ua an
their age and ability. al

Ev

ce
Each core task covers the four aspects of
The PE core tasks provide a complete
knowledge, skills and understanding Selecting and
piece of work for pupils to achieve
required by the PE national curriculum, Acquiring applying skills,
(similar to the final piece of work that tactics and
as shown in the diagram on the right. and developing
would be put into a pupil’s portfolio or compositional
The components are linked and all need skills
displayed on the wall in another ideas
to be developed in order to perform a
subject). They:
core task well.
• have been designed to match the
The PE core tasks also provide an
physical, mental and emotional Knowledge and
excellent framework for assessment for
maturity of most pupils in an age understanding of
learning, as they involve an ongoing
group fitness and health

ce
Ev

discussion between teacher and pupil al

ua an
• enable pupils to make progress by about how to improve the quality of ti n r m
improving the quality of their performance and make progress.
ga
nd e rfo
i m p r o vi n g p
performance in a particular task
• grow in complexity and difficulty as
pupils make progress through a
series of tasks

About this chart

This chart has been produced to help At this point, they are at the left-hand As this suggests, the chart can be a
you track pupils’ progress in PE as they side of the block, just entering the core useful tool for curriculum planning.
work through a specific core task or a task. As they make progress through Identify a core task that you think is at
series of core tasks. It presents a visual the core task they are likely to move: an appropriate pitch for your pupils
snapshot of the pitch and challenge of and assess how well they can perform
• from hesitant early performance,
different tasks, enabling you to track it (if they can perform it easily from the
applying a small range of solutions
pupils’ progress as they complete tasks outset, then they are not being
both within and across areas of activity • to fluent, accurate performance, challenged enough). From this starting
(for example gymnastic activities and drawing on a wide range of skills point, use the chart to plan a series of
athletic activities). and ideas. core tasks of gradually increasing
Each core task is represented on the Once performance is at this higher difficulty from across the different
chart by a rectangular block. A pupil is level and the core task is no longer areas of activity. This will enable your
ready to work at the pitch of a challenging, the pupil has reached the pupils to build on their learning
particular core task when they can right-hand side of the block and is effectively and to make good progress
access its key concepts and skills. ready to move on. in PE as a whole.
 Using core tasks to track pupils’ progress in PE
Based on the QCA/DfES schemes of work for physical education

Exceptional
Pre-level 1

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8

UNIT 1 UNIT 2 LINK UNIT

CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1

Games UNIT 1 UNIT 2 LINK UNIT

CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2
activities
UNIT 1 UNIT 2 LINK UNIT
CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3

UNIT 1 UNIT 3 DEVELOPMENT UNIT

CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1

UNIT 1 UNIT 3 DEVELOPMENT UNIT

CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2
INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 1
Invasion games UNIT 2
CORE TASK 1
UNIT 4
CORE TASK 1
DEVELOPMENT UNIT
CORE TASK 3
INTERMEDIATE UNIT
ADVANCED UNIT
CORE TASK 1
CORE TASK 2
UNIT 2 UNIT 4
CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2
UNIT 2 UNIT 4
CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3

UNIT 1 UNIT 2
CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1
DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1

Net games UNIT 1

CORE TASK 2
UNIT 2
CORE TASK 2
ADVANCED UNIT
CORE TASK 1
DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2
UNIT 1 UNIT 2
CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3

UNIT 1
CORE TASK 1
UNIT 2 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1
Striking and UNIT 1 ADVANCED UNIT
CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 1
fielding games UNIT 2 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2
UNIT 1
CORE TASK 3

UNIT 1 UNIT 2 UNIT 4 UNIT 6 DEVELOPMENT UNIT

CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1

UNIT 1 UNIT 2 UNIT 4 UNIT 6 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT

Gymnastic CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 1
ADVANCED UNIT
CORE TASK 1
activities UNIT 3
CORE TASK 1
UNIT 5
CORE TASK 1
LINK UNIT
CORE TASK 1
INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 2

UNIT 3 UNIT 5 LINK UNIT

CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2

UNIT 1 UNIT 3 UNIT 5 LINK UNIT

CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1

Dance UNIT 5 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT ADVANCED UNIT

CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1
activities UNIT 2 UNIT 4 UNIT 6
CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1

UNIT 1 UNIT 3 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT

CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1
UNIT 2
CORE TASK 1
Athletic UNIT 1 UNIT 3 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT ADVANCED UNIT
CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 1
activities UNIT 2
CORE TASK 2
UNIT 1 UNIT 3 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3

UNIT 2 UNIT 3
CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1

Outdoor and UNIT 1

CORE TASK 1
DEVELOPMENT UNIT
CORE TASK 1
INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 1

adventurous UNIT 2
CORE TASK 2
UNIT 3
CORE TASK 2
ADVANCED UNIT
CORE TASK 1
UNIT 1 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT
activities CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2 CORE TASK 2
UNIT 2 UNIT 3
CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3

UNIT 1 UNIT 2 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT

CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1 CORE TASK 1

Swimming
activities and UNIT 1
CORE TASK 2
UNIT 2
CORE TASK 2
DEVELOPMENT UNIT
CORE TASK 2
INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 2
ADVANCED UNIT
CORE TASK 1

water safety
UNIT 1 UNIT 2 DEVELOPMENT UNIT INTERMEDIATE UNIT
CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3 CORE TASK 3
Exceptional
Pre-level 1

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8

core task chart aw 22/3/06 8:10 pm Page 1

Further information
The full PE core tasks are available in the QCA/DfES QCA's swimming website, Swimming safely, swimming
scheme of work for physical education. To order a copy, well (www.qca.org.uk/safeswimming/) shows how you can
call the QCA Orderline on 08700 606015, email break down core tasks into teaching activities.
[email protected], or visit www.qca.org.uk/orderline/.
The document Using core tasks for teaching and learning
The scheme of work is also available online at
in PE, available as a PDF at www.qca.org.uk/pe/, reports
www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes3/.
on how primary and secondary schools are benefiting
from using core tasks.

Qualifications and
Curriculum Authority
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Telephone 020 7509 5555
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www.qca.org.uk
© QCA 2005
QCA/05/1497
ISBN 1-85838-688-8