Intent

• At St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School we are passionate about PE, school sport and daily physical activity, long recognising the contribution of PE to the health and well-being of our children.

• We also acknowledge that a broad, balanced, high-quality curriculum and a range of extra-curricular activities have a positive impact on concentration, attitude and achievement. We plan an effective English curriculum which will meet the needs of all learners; making adjustments where necessary to ensure that children with Special Educational Needs and those who are categorised as Disadvantaged Learners are able to achieve their full potential. 

• We are committed in ensuring that all pupils receive a minimum of 2 hours of PE per week, delivered by well-trained and enthusiastic teachers as well as our specialist sports coach.

• At St Patrick’s Catholic, we aim to provide a PE curriculum that pupils from Reception to Year 6 not only enjoy but also allows them to experience a range of activities that help them to develop their health, fitness and wellbeing.

• We intend to offer a high-quality physical education curriculum that inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities.

• It provides opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness.

• We believe that participation in sporting activity is a key element of developing a school in which pupils are proud of the community in which they belong. Therefore, great emphasis is placed upon additional sporting opportunities beyond the lesson within after-school clubs, inter-house and inter-school competition and festivals as well as directly trying to support the local clubs within the Corsham area.

•  The national curriculum for PE aims to ensure that all pupils:
•  develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
•  are physically active for sustained periods of time
•  to engage in competitive sports and activities
•  lead healthy, active lives

Implementation

• Children are taught two PE sessions each week by both teaching staff and a qualified sports instructor from Reception to Year 6.

• The curriculum is further enhanced by participation in numerous sporting tournaments with other

schools in the area and after school clubs.

• Lunchtime MDSA’s supervise sports activities between 12-1, including: football and basketball.

• We aim to ensure that the children participate in active lessons outside of their regular PE lessons e.g. through the Daily Mile. This also involves incorporating moments within lessons whereby the children can be active.

• We follow the guidelines set by the national curriculum to ensure we offer a range of PE activities that allow each child to feel challenged and offer opportunities to progress further.

• Children are taught to observe and produce the conventions of fair play, honest competition and good sporting behaviour as individual participants, team members and spectators. Thus embedding life-long values such as co-operation, collaboration and equity of play.

• We provide opportunities for children to learn how to stay safe by starting swimming lessons in Year 3 and continuing into Year 6, if necessary until the majority of children have become confident in the water, know how to keep safe and will also meet the National Curriculum requirements of swimming 25m by the end of Year 6.

• Our PE Curriculum, along with PSHE and science, teaches children about the importance of healthy living and learning about the need for good nutrition. At St Patrick’s Catholic, we aim for children to develop the necessary knowledge and skills which will have a positive impact on their future by becoming physically active citizens to benefit their long-term health and well-being.

• Children take part in a sports day during the summer term and these both follow an athletics focus. Sports Day allows the children to showcase their learning in the athletic disciplines. Pupils earn points for their House Team, resulting in the award of the Sports House Cup to the winners.

• Outside Providers, Teachers and Support Staff provide a wide range of sports clubs, both for team and individual sports.

Impact 

• The aim is that our extensive PE curriculum will impact greatly on our children’s ability to acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to make appropriate choices about their physical and mental health.

• The curriculum will develop positive self-awareness in children as they become physically competent.

• They will also demonstrate a healthy attitude to competition, showing respect for individuals, teams, officials and coaches.