PE

Teaching PE at St Mark’s

We aim to ignite in our youngest pupils a sense of enjoyment and achievement in physical activity that is sustained and developed throughout their primary school years and beyond. Through physical activity all pupils will understand that practise, perseverance and hard work can help overcome setbacks and bring a sense of success. Pupils will experience the feeling of togetherness that working collaboratively as part of a team brings and be introduced to a wide range of sporting disciplines and physical activity. Through our core school value, ‘Healthy Body, Healthy Mind’ we make clear the link between mental health and physical well being and offer opportunities across our PE curriculum to develop both.

Implementation

The curriculum is designed to build on key knowledge and skills within each academic year. Teaching is planned in half termly schemes of work which identify new skills to introduce and which ‘core’ skills can be revisited and further developed. Each week children across the school take part in 2 PE lessons.  In addition to this, in the EYFS children have access to outside provision which supports physical development and planned activities support the development of fine and gross motor skills. Across the school, teachers plan the introduction of new skills thoughtfully so that they are built on over time and all pupils are supported with feedback and support as well as opportunities for challenges that extend individuals.  As part of each lesson children take part in a warm up and cool down to understand the effects of physical activity on their bodies.

In the EYFS and Key Stage 1 skills are presented through fun activities which are often linked to stories or songs.

We are part of the Featherstone School Sports Partnership which enables us to take teams of all abilities to a range of across the year.

Impact

By the time children leave our school they will have developed a strong understanding of the importance of regular physical activity and see this as integral to mental wellbeing.  They will have had experience of competing and have learned the mental strength necessary to try new things, push themselves and persevere, as well as the personal characteristics needed to be a good sportsperson.  Pupils will have the knowledge and skills that enable them to take part in a range of sporting activities and will have begun to develop their own interests so that they are able to embrace opportunities at secondary school.