Sports
Physical Education
Purpose of Study:
A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.
Through PE we aim to encourage a lifetime love of sport and keeping fit.
Our PE and sport aspires to build determination, passion, respect, honesty, self-belief and teamwork. These values will endeavour to:
- Improve health and well-being.
- Provide a broad range of high-quality opportunities and outcomes for all.
- Encourage community involvement.
- Promote active participation and competition at all levels.
- Raise achievement and supporting excellence.
In Early Years Foundation Stage, opportunities will be provided for children to be active and to develop their co-ordination, control and movement through moving and handling activities which involve the use of a range of equipment and involve different spatial experiences. Structured lessons and opportunities for outdoor physical activity will last at least 2 hours each week.
Pupils in both KS1 and KS2 will engage in lessons of high-quality PE each week. In KS1 the curriculum focuses on fundamental movement skills to develop agility, balance and co-ordination. Curriculum content includes ball skills and team games, gymnastic and dance activities. At KS2 pupils will continue to apply and develop a range of skills and units of work which include a range of invasion, net/wall, and fielding and striking games, gymnastics, dance, athletics and swimming. Children’s experiences will also be enriched through opportunities for outdoor and adventurous activities. A range of resources will be used to support progression across the curriculum including specialist coaching sessions for different sports. We have engaged Surrey County Cricket to coach and inspire our young cricketers and both our boys and girls football clubs have played and competed at Dorking Wanderers FC.
PE Lessons/planning and resources at St Martin’s is designed based on a progression of skills and knowledge approach across the school, as well as physical activity and mindfulness being key factors for a healthy lifestyle. We are the proud owners of a SCHOOL GAMES PLATINUM AWARD which recognises our commitment to ensuring that all children have at least two hours of physical education each week, one using our grounds at the base of Ranmore including an AstroTurf court and the other within the sports hall and also enjoy a range of opportunities to compete competitively.
We achieve inclusivity through ensuring that all genders have equal opportunities and experiences. All year groups are working to the phased long-term plan which offers a wide range of sporting experiences and allows for improvements on their sporting journey. Planning consists of games, athletics, gymnastics, dance and swimming. Swimming is taught in the phase of year 3/4, with children who have not yet reached national curriculum standard being required to attend a ‘top up’ swimming course in year 6.
St Martin’s offer a wide variety of extra-curricular clubs, whether they be delivered by school staff or external providers. Clubs are open to all children within the designated age range to ensure all pupils receive the best experience. The school participates in competitions, fixtures and festivals run by both Dorking School Sports Partnership and Active Surrey. Children have been successful within these competitions and their achievements have been celebrated within assemblies.
Children have access to a variety of equipment at break and lunchtimes. They can use this equipment to practice their skills and use their imagination to create games of their own. This increases their understanding of rules and values within sport. A variety of interschool competitions are run to ensure all have access to competitive sport, should they choose it. They are rewarded for achievement as well as improvement and demonstration of values.
Teachers use active brain breaks within lessons to ensure children maintain engagement through short bursts of activity. Links with our enquiry curriculum are made where appropriate: dance is matched with the enquiry the children are currently studying which allows for an engaging and enriching experience such as when studying the Romans or Greeks. There are links with science (being a scientist), PSHE and wellbeing (being a philosopher) through enquiries around the human body, health and fitness.