The aims of the Department of Physical Education are:

1. To contribute to the physical development of each pupil through the promotion of skills acquisition and competence in a range of physical activities.
2. To contribute to the social education of the pupils by providing opportunities for them to co-operate with one another and to share the value of sports and games, through a sense of satisfaction and achievement from play.
3. To promote in each pupil a love of, interest in, and knowledge of physical activity and its contribution to the maintenance of life-long personal health and fitness.
4. To prepare our pupils to make active, creative, and purposeful use of their leisure time throughout their lives.
5. To enable pupils to gain enjoyment and an aesthetic appreciation of movement, through purposeful and progressive physical activities.
6. To encourage attributes of enthusiasm, honesty, sportsmanship and fair play.
7. To give each pupil the opportunity to perform and progress at his own pace and ability.
8. To help pupils become more self-confident and be able to cope better with success and failure, stress, competition and fear.

KEY STAGE 3 & 4

The department recognises that pupils enter Key Stage 3 with various experiences in physical education.  These experiences are acknowledged, nurtured and developed throughout the pupil’s time in St. Patrick’s.  Physical Education classes are aimed at developing the whole body in an enjoyable environment, challenging the pupil through various individual, partner and group activities.  All pupils are treated equally with emphasis placed at Key Stage 4 on encouraging all pupils to enjoy some form of physical activity which they may consider continuing after school and after they leave St Patrick’s. Activities experienced from years 8 to 12 include; Gaelic Football, Circuit training HRE, Dodgeball,  Basketball, Athletics, Rugby, Volleyball, Soccer, Handball, Squash, Gymnastics, Table tennis, Cross country running, Badminton, and European Handball.

The extra-curricular experience is important to the department. Teachers freely give up their time in the promotion of; Gaelic Football, Hurling, Basketball, Soccer, Athletics, Golf, Swimming, Cross country and Handball during after-school and Saturday morning sessions. Students on squads remain after school from 3.30 to 5pm mid week and senior teams train on Saturday mornings from 9.30 to 12noon. Currently the school enters 23 official competitions.