‘Never say never because limits, like fears, are often an illusion.’ -Michael Jordan

At St. Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that Physical Education and sport have a vital role to play in the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of our children. 

The intent of our PE curriculum is to deliver a curriculum which is accessible to all and that will maximise the development of every child’s ability and achievement in the area of PE enabling them to know more about physical activity and keeping healthy, remember more about the physical activity they participate in and learn about and understand how to use and apply this knowledge to impact upon their own physical activity, participation and healthy lifestyle. We ensure this is done in a way that meets the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum programme of study. 

The PE curriculum at St. Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School aims to provide for pupils’ increasing self- confidence through an ability to manage themselves successfully in a variety of situations. We aim to deliver an immersive, knowledge rich, high-quality PE curriculum that produces confident and physically literate young people, with a deeply embedded love of the subject. 

We believe that every child should have the opportunity to take part in physical activity on a regular basis and become more physically confident and competent.

Children will have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of sports and physical activities, carried out in a safe and supportive environment, where effort and hard-work, as well as success, is celebrated and enjoyment and working together is promoted.

‘You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.’ Babe Ruth

Intent

Why does our PE curriculum look like this?

PE at SMC aims to deliver a fun, high-quality physical education programme that inspires all pupils to succeed. Pupils will be taught a sequenced development of substantive knowledge based on the children practising and developing specific skills that can be used in a variety of disciplines, sports and games. 

We will provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Our children will have opportunities to compete in sport and other activities that build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect. 

We recognise that PE is a vital part of school life and ultimately children’s future well-being. It is therefore our intent to provide an inclusive, broad and balanced PE curriculum that ensures ALL children will benefit, whether through enhancing existing skills, learning new skills or being introduced to new sports, clubs, teams and organisations. 

Children will develop an understanding of the interpretation and application of the movements, rules and tactics attached to different activities and how to evaluate and judge performance including the quality of movement. 

It is our intent to ensure children understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and to equip them with the tools to do so through health and well-being education. Children must understand how to care for themselves both physically and mentally in order to prepare themselves for the future. 

Effective planning is sequenced so pupils progressively build up their knowledge and skills over time. 

We are passionate about the need to teach children how to cooperate and collaborate with others, as part of a team, understanding fairness and equality to embed life-long values.

‘Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it’. –  Michael Jordan

Implementation

How are we going to do this?

Children are taught regularly by both teaching staff and MFC sports coaches from Nursery to Year 6. The curriculum is further enhanced by participation in numerous sporting tournaments with other schools in the area and after school clubs. Our SMC sport leaders, with the guidance of the sports coach and PE Lead, supervise sports skills, games and activities at playtime and lunchtime.

Children at SMC participate in 2 hours of high quality PE sessions per week.  Our PE programme incorporates a variety of sports and skills to ensure all children develop the confidence, tolerance and the appreciation of their own and others’ strengths and weaknesses. We provide opportunities for all children to engage in extra-curricular activities before, during and after school, in addition to competitive sporting events. This is an inclusive approach which endeavours to encourage not only physical development but also well-being for all pupils. At SMC we focus on the whole child approach to learning. Using the National Curriculum as a guide, we incorporate each of the skills into a focus on working on every child’s physical, social and cognitive development.  We have devised a curriculum overview to ensure each child works within each of the different areas to achieve their goals in all areas of learning.

Impact

‘Exercise not only changes your body. It changes your mind, your attitude and your mood.’ Unknown

How will we know that we have been successful? 

Our children have a secure understanding of the benefits of leading healthy lifestyles. Children are able to know more and remember more about the importance of healthy lifestyles. They progress well throughout each year group and meet the NC objectives. They are eager to attend after school clubs and competitive sports events and even the least confident children are keen to attend.

We assess a child’s learning in PE in the following ways:-

Formative assessments

This can allow teachers/ coaches to assess pupils’ knowledge and plan their next steps. 

Summative assessments

This allows schools to measure standards. See how effective teaching and the curriculum are across year groups, report to parents and monitor pupils’ progress and wider outcomes. 

Some of the effective ways in which we assess PE at SMC are:-

Assessment on PE passport

Video / photographic evidence

Monitoring

Pupil voice

Swimming

Each year group in Key Stage 2 will attend swimming lessons for a total of 10 hours swimming time, divided into manageable blocks. This usually takes place in Year 4. 

Assessments are based on teacher/instructor assessments and are recorded onto a tracker. This tracker is used throughout school to identify gaps in children’s learning. It is used to inform future planning and to differentiate questioning / set challenges as appropriate.  Pupils are also given time to reflect on their learning and take part in self, peer and group feedback within the lesson.

 School Sports Premium Funding

The Government is providing each primary school throughout England with additional funding which is to be spent on improving the sports provision within schools. At SMC we believe a high quality PE curriculum should be an integral part of the whole school curriculum and one that staff, pupils and parents understand and can contribute to.  Our school recognises the values that a high quality PE and school sport curriculum gives pupils and our aim is to use the Sports Premium Funding each year to maximise our PE provision.

 School Games and NPCAT Trustmark

We have been awarded the School Games Silver Award in recognition of:-

-Increasing Engagement in School Games 

-Plans in place to provide all students with two hours of Physical Education, school sport and physical activity per week inclusive of extra curriculum provision 

 -Engage at least 20% of pupils in extracurricular sporting and physical activity every week 

Developing Competitive Opportunities 

-Use the School Games formats to provide the opportunity for both boys and girls to take part in the appropriate level of competition.

We have also been awarded the NPCAT Silver Trustmark award this year.