Physical Education at St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School

At St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, P.E. is a fundamental part of our curriculum. We believe that high-quality physical education helps children to develop confidence, resilience, teamwork, physical skills and a lifelong enjoyment of being active.

P.E. is taught twice weekly throughout school. We follow the Lancashire P.E. Passport scheme of work, which provides a broad, progressive and carefully sequenced curriculum from Reception to Year 6. Our curriculum includes gymnastics, dance, games, athletics, outdoor and adventurous activities, swimming, health-related fitness and a wide range of team and individual sports.

P.E. is supported by a wide range of sporting clubs, which take place both after school and during the school day. Through the use of the P.E. and Sport Premium, children also have access to a range of sporting events, competitions, leadership opportunities and wider physical activity experiences.

Intent

Our P.E. curriculum aims to:

Develop children’s fundamental movement skills, including agility, balance and coordination.

Enable children to become increasingly confident and competent in a wide range of physical activities.

Promote positive attitudes towards healthy lifestyles, fitness and physical wellbeing.

Teach children how to work collaboratively, communicate effectively and compete fairly.

Develop resilience, determination, teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship.

Ensure all children, including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND, have access to high-quality P.E., sport and physical activity.

Prepare children to enjoy physical activity beyond school and understand the importance of staying active throughout life.

Implementation

Lancashire P.E. Passport: We follow the Lancashire P.E. Passport scheme of work, which provides a structured and progressive approach to the teaching of P.E. across the school.

Twice-weekly P.E. lessons: Children take part in P.E. twice each week, ensuring regular opportunities to develop physical skills, confidence and fitness.

Progressive skills development: Learning is sequenced so that children build on previous knowledge and skills as they move through school. The progression map shows how skills develop across areas such as gymnastics, dance, games, athletics, outdoor and adventurous activities, swimming and health-related fitness.

Broad curriculum offer: Pupils experience a wide range of activities, including invasion games, net and wall games, striking and fielding games, athletics, gymnastics, dance, yoga, outdoor and adventurous activities, swimming and health-related fitness.

Swimming and water safety: Swimming is an important part of our curriculum and wider safeguarding work. Additional targeted swimming support is provided where needed so that pupils can develop confidence, competence and water-safety awareness.

Extra-curricular sport: Children have access to a range of sporting clubs, both after school and during the school day. These clubs help pupils to enjoy sport, stay active and develop confidence beyond curriculum P.E.

Competitions and events: Pupils are given opportunities to represent the school in sporting events and competitions. We aim to make competitive sport inclusive, so that a wide range of pupils can experience teamwork, resilience and fair play.

Leadership and personal development: P.E. and sport are used to develop wider personal qualities, including confidence, teamwork, resilience, leadership and responsibility. Older pupils are also supported to develop leadership skills through opportunities such as Young Leaders training.

Active lifestyles: We promote physical activity through wider opportunities such as active travel, cycling, Bikeability, Tots on Tyres and structured sporting opportunities across the year.

Supporting SEND Learners in P.E.

At St Catherine’s, we believe that all children should be able to access, enjoy and succeed in P.E.

Activities are adapted so that pupils can participate successfully.

Staff provide appropriate support, modelling and encouragement.

Pupils are given opportunities to develop confidence at their own level.

Inclusive sporting opportunities are promoted so that pupils with SEND can access clubs, events and competitions.

The focus is on participation, progress, confidence and enjoyment, as well as skill development.

Impact

Through our P.E. curriculum, children at St Catherine’s:

Develop confidence, competence and enjoyment in a wide range of physical activities.

Build strong fundamental movement skills, including agility, balance and coordination.

Understand the importance of physical activity, fitness and healthy lifestyles.

Learn how to work as part of a team, communicate effectively and show good sportsmanship.

Develop resilience, determination and the confidence to challenge themselves.

Access sporting clubs, competitions and wider physical activity opportunities.

Leave St Catherine’s with the skills, knowledge and positive attitudes needed to remain active and healthy in the future.