Physical Education
Intent
At St Swithun’s CE Primary School we recognise the value of Physical Education (PE) not just on physical health, but on mental health. We fully adhere to the aims of the National Curriculum for PE to ensure that all children:
- develop competence so that they achieve their potential in a broad range of physical activities;
- are physically active for sustained periods of time;
- engage in competitive sports and activities;
- lead healthy, active lives.
We offer a curriculum that helps children to develop transferable life skills and values linked to our school’s golden rule of acting with courtesy, consideration and respect at all times.
Implementation
PE is taught at St Swithun’s as an area of learning in its own right. Children have a minimum of two hours of PE timetabled per week. One hour is taught by sports coaches, who teach games from Years 1 to 6, and the other hour is the responsibility of the class teacher. Everyone who teaches PE follows our long term plan, which is progressive and offers children a broad range of sports and activities that are fun and inclusive.
In addition to our long term plan, pupils in Years 2, 4 and 6 have the opportunity to go on a residential visit where they can learn and apply a range of skills they have learnt in previous years, including teamwork and identifying and managing risks. Furthermore, pupils in Years 3, 4 5 and 6 receive hour-long swimming lessons each day for one week. We believe that blocking the swimming lessons in this way gives the children the best opportunity to be able to meet the swimming requirements at the end of Key Stage 2.
As a school we also offer a broad range of active after school clubs: zumba, gymnastics, dance, football and netball. Many of our children also belong to sports clubs outside of school. Every year, the class teacher keeps a record of those children who are active after school and those who are not part of any club.
This helps us to identify those pupils who we can help. When external coaches come in to deliver continuing professional development (CPD) to staff, this is an ideal opportunity to signpost local clubs to pupils.
Throughout the academic year, there are many opportunities for children to participate and represent the school in both inter- and intra-school competitions. Whether this is through our local West Oxford Schools Partnership or Vale partnership events or at the end of a game's unit in PE, we believe that it is important for all children to have the opportunity to compete. This enables them to apply the skills they have acquired and feel part of a team effort, modelling the sporting behaviour that is highly encouraged.
The Government is providing each primary school throughout England with additional funding which is to be spent on improving the school’s sports provision. At St Swithun’s CE Primary School we have been using this to ensure children are more active at break and lunchtimes and staff have the resources to deliver high quality PE lessons. Our PE budget statement gives a breakdown of expenditure.
Impact
PE is taught as a basis for lifelong learning, where the children have access to a wide range of sports and activities in the belief that if taught well and the children are given opportunities to succeed, then they will continue to have a physically active life. At Swithun’s, we provide our pupils with a high-quality PE education which inspires all children to succeed and build upon their strengths as well as providing opportunities for them to find a passion which they can then pursue in later life. This all contributes to them building character and embedding the values of acting with courtesy, consideration, and respect.
