Physical Education

Intent:

At St Mark’s Church of England Primary School, our Physical Education (P.E.) curriculum promotes a healthy, active lifestyle through engaging in a range of physical, enjoyable and competitive activities. Whole class P.E. teaching encourages and supports our children to achieve our vision of flourishing together.  In addition to this, it actively promotes our school values:  ‘respect’ , ‘aspire’ and ‘rejoice’.  We seek to ensure our children understand the importance of team work, strive to master skills and have a positive mental health and wellbeing.  We aim to provide all children, including those with SEND, with opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge by participating in a range of sports and activities. Both our curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities provide experiences for children to develop their skills, enjoyment of sport and give them a basis on which to develop skills and inspire them to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle.

Implementation:

St. Mark’s Church of England Primary School fully adheres to the aims of the National Curriculum for Physical Education. This ensures that all children develop in a broad range of activities, are physically active for sustained periods of time and have opportunities to engage in competitive sports.  Our curriculum is inclusive and ensures that all children are fully included in physical activities.

Physical Education is timetabled twice a week, including swimming lessons for at least one half term per class. A range of extra-curricular activities are provided for children to engage in, across the Key Stages which help to encourage a passion for sport and improve physical ability. To support with planning, delivery of lessons and assessment, we have school subscription to PPP: Primary P.E Planning. This is a valuable resource which ensures we deliver innovative, high-quality lessons which ensure progression of skills, as well as vocabulary. 

The school are actively engaged in the Bournemouth School Games programme of events and annually participate in competitions in a range of sports, as well as entering teams into ‘Can Do’ events which are aimed at SEND pupils, where they can compete and represent the school.

At St. Mark’s Church of England Primary School we believe it is important to not only develop the progression of skills for the children but to also give members of staff continued professional development and training. AFC Bournemouth’s Community Coaching Team work with each class and teacher for half a term to help develop both skills and confidence. With support from our Regional School Games Organiser, we have access to CPD programmes of events. We also have a working relationship with the Sports Department at Bournemouth University who will often run workshops and activities for children to participate in.

We believe it is important for children to have a say in Physical Education at our school and we have a team of sports leaders, known as our Bronze Ambassadors, who regularly meet to give their opinions on PE, as well as running playtime and lunchtime activities.

Impact:

Children leave St. Mark’s having had opportunities to participate and develop a love of sport. Physical Education is an important and valued part of our school curriculum, where children are accessing 2 hours of high-quality P.E as part of a weekly programme of study. Children are developing transferable skills, which can be applied to other areas, e.g. respect, teamwork, perseverance, determination and stamina and through our PE curriculum, children will be engaged and challenged. 

All children have the opportunity to experience competitive situations in sport and PE either on an intra or inter school basis or both. Our extra-curricular clubs are inclusive of all abilities and helps children to build confidence in themselves and to be accepting of others. Through cross-curricular studies, children learn the impacts of a healthy lifestyle and how this is achieved as well as skills that underpin life, such as teamwork, sportsmanship, self-motivation, resilience and independence.