PE
Curriculum Intent
Saint Joseph’s CVA recognises the long-term value of an excellent Physical Education (P.E) curriculum.
We fully adhere to the aims of the national curriculum for physical education (growing competence in a broad range of physical activities, creating physically active children for life, engaging in competitive sports and activities, developing ‘whole children’). Our offer is tailored to meet the needs of our children and community. To do this, we plan our activities to;
- Create positive settings where children can try new things
- Encourage children to stretch beyond familiar habits, behaviours and comfort zones
- Develop healthy responses to success and failure
- Practice self-reflection and adaptation to grow personal resilience and positive emotional wellbeing
- Learn independent and collaborative methods and skills
- Make connections and relationships outside the school environment
- Build confidence to choose a healthy, active lifestyle
Curriculum Implementation
P.E. is taught at Saint Joseph’s CVA as an area of learning in its own right, as well as being integrated where possible with other curriculum areas. It is taught for a minimum of one PE session a week, as well as after school and lunchtime clubs to boost activity levels within school. Each morning ‘The Daily Mile’ is also on offer for all children to start the day with fresh air and movement.
The key knowledge and skills of each topic are mapped across year groups. This ensures that children develop their knowledge of Games, Dance and Gymnastics, Swimming, Athletics and OAA (Outdoor and Adventurous Activities) progressively through their time at Saint Joseph’s. The skills in these areas are also developed systematically, with the programme of study for each year group building on previous learning and preparing for subsequent years. Knowledge and skills are informed and linked to enable success for all, as informed by the National Curriculum.
We teach lessons so that children:
- develop their fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident in their own abilities, within both their Health-related and Skill-related components of fitness
- engage in competitive (both for the self and against others) and co-operative physical activities
- apply and develop a broad range of skills, learning how to use them in different ways and being able to link them together to create sequences/routines
- enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other
- develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success/areas for development
- understand the benefits of exercise relating to both their physical and mental wellbeing, and the importance of developing life-long habits
Lessons are planned to utilise cross curricular links. The varied curriculum is designed to enable all children to engage and enjoy physical activity and to experience success. All children have the opportunity to participate in PE at their own level of development, through the extensive differentiation included within the planned lessons. As well as securing and building upon a range of skills, children develop knowledge of the basic rules, both written and unwritten, helping to develop good sporting attitudes. These link to life inside and outside of school.
Extra-curricular provision also provides further challenge and access to a range of physical activities that are often not readily available on the Curriculum. We are also always striving to develop links with outside agencies to give students even more opportunities to help their growth outside of school hours. Planning of activities are carefully monitored to ensure that opportunities are varied whilst also ensuring that the most is made out of the school’s stunning grounds that we are so fortunate to have. Regular ‘House’ competitions take place, where children can compete to develop a sense of belonging and personal contribution to team results.
Curriculum Impact
The children complete each key stage with a high proficiency in every aspect of PE. Pupils are made aware of the link between physical activity and good mental health and understand its significance as part of a healthy, successful lifestyle. The school is part of the Highfields School Sport Partnership, allowing the children to participate in events outside of school against others, as well as within school. All our children are enthusiastic participants in our yearly sports day and some pupils are part of sports clubs outside of school. The curriculum ensures that those in Y6 leave as ‘Whole Children,’ whose physical, cognitive, social, affective and lifestyle domains have grown and developed to ensure that they are not only prepared to settle into modern life, but challenge and change it. Children are assessed at regular intervals against National Curriculum milestones, to understand their own progress and help the school to evaluate and continually refine its excellent offer.
