Learning
PDHPE
The PDHPE department at St Paul’s Catholic College is committed to fostering the holistic development of our students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to lead healthy, balanced, and fulfilling lives. Our focus is to prioritise physical and mental wellbeing, nurturing physical abilities alongside emotional and mental skills through diverse sports and mental strength practices and techniques. With a focus on innovative, student-centred learning, we engage students in active, practical, and real-world assessments that bridge junior and senior courses while building confidence and literacy.
We celebrate inclusivity and community, providing students with opportunities to connect, lead, and contribute through unique activities like First Nations games, rapidly growing sports such as pickleball, house competitions as well as a wide variety of sport and physical activity opportunities including yoga. By prioritising these pillars, PDHPE inspires students to thrive as confident, responsible, and connected individuals both in school and beyond.
How we do it
Empowering health and wellbeing
PDHPE develops essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes that empower students to enhance their own and others’ health, safety, and wellbeing. By addressing real-world challenges in diverse and dynamic contexts, students learn to critically analyse health concepts, build resilience, and make informed decisions to lead healthy, balanced lives.
Building respectful and inclusive youth
PDHPE promotes empathy, resilience, and inclusivity. Students learn to critique stereotypes, challenge assumptions, and interact respectfully with others. The subject instils values of social justice, encouraging students to embrace diversity and develop meaningful, respectful relationships in their communities.
Inspiring confidence through movement
Physical education is central to developing movement skills and concepts that enable confident, creative, and competent participation in a wide range of physical activities. Through experiential learning, students explore the importance of physical activity in maintaining health and refine the physical, cognitive, and social skills needed for lifelong participation.
Preparing for a Dynamic Future
In a rapidly changing society, PDHPE equips students with the tools to adapt, advocate, and lead. Students gain self-management, interpersonal, and movement skills that empower them to navigate life’s challenges. By exploring contemporary health issues, students develop the confidence to actively contribute to their communities while shaping their future as socially responsible and self-assured young people.
Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education (PDHPE) is a compulsory subject from Kindergarten through Year 10. The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) mandates that students engage in 300 hours of PDHPE per year from Years 7 to 10.
Students may extend their interest in PDHPE by choosing to study the Stage 5 elective Physical Activity and Sport Studies (PASS) in the one year (100 hours) or 2 year (200 hours) course.
In Years 11 and 12, they may continue these studies by choosing the HSC course Health and Movement Science.
