Physical Education
“Sport teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose - it teaches you about life.”
- Billie Jean King
Intent
At St Mark's we know how important it is for children to be active, value teamwork, and strive for their personal best; both in and out of the classroom.
Through the PE curriculum we ensure that all children are physically active for sustained periods of time. We implement the NC through both knowledge and skill based activities and promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Children are given the opportunity to engage in competitive sports and activities both inter and intra schools which builds character and helps to embed our Christian Values.
Our curriculum is designed to:
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Inspire a lifelong love of movement and sport
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Promote physical and emotional well-being
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Develop perseverance, cooperation and respect
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Celebrate effort, teamwork and personal growth as much as achievement
Implementation
St Mark's PE learning follows the National Curriculum for PE and delivers high-quality lessons weekly, led by class teachers and enhanced specialist sports coaches. The curriculum is planned carefully and includes opportunities for progression, competition and leadership.
Basing our curriculum and activities around a broad variety of sports and physical activities helps provide new, exciting experiences that will spark an interest and motivate our learners to be more physically active and enjoy the associated health and social benefits this can bring.
We focus on the key skills of:
- Running
- Jumping
- Coordination
- Balance
- Agility
- Throwing
- Catching
We also encourage pupils to:
- develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
- are physically active for sustained periods of time
- engage in competitive sports and activities
- lead healthy, active lives
- show good sportsmanship to each other
Supporting All Learners (including SEND)
We aim to deliver inclusive PE lessons, by ensuring our Physical Education curriculum both engages and inspires all young people to lead healthy and active lifestyles and broaden their experience of sport and fitness activities, regardless of any disability or need they may have.
Pupils with special educational needs or disabilities are supported through:
- adapted equipment
- visual modelling
- structured guidance
- scaffolded tasks
- clear and precise names for strategies and techniques
- using alternative areas for children who cannot access certain areas / equipment
- larges, bright, shiny, tactile resources to engage sensory learners
- additional adults / peers to re model skills
- gradual build up to competitive situations
- felxible expectations for participation
This is not an exhaustive list, but examples of key strategies that our teachers will utilise within lessons to best suit the needs of their learners. Strategies will be selected purposefully and used flexibly to ensure the best possible outcomes for all pupils.
Impact
The impact of our PE curriculum is seen not only in pupils’ physical development, but also in their confidence, teamwork, and resilience. We assess progress through a combination of questioning, observations during lessons and asking the children key questions.
Class teachers and specialist sports coaches work closely together to monitor pupil development. This ensures every child receives feedback tailored to their needs, and that learning builds effectively over time. The PE subject leader regularly reviews these assessments to ensure progression and consistency across year groups.
PE School Plan 2025 - 26
Reception & Year 1:
(Fundamental skills)
Term 1: Co-ordination
Term 2: Agility
Term 3: Jumping
Term 4: Balance
Term 5: Target (Throwing & catching)
Term 6: Cricket & Sports Day
Year 1/2 & KS2:
Term 1: Tag Rugby
Term 2: Netball
Term 3: Football
Term 4: Hockey / Multi-Skills
Term 5: Cricket
Term 6: Athletics & Sports Day
Year 5 also attend Swimming lessons throughout the year, as well as their class PE sessions.
Lessons are planned with the mixed year groups in mind, making sure all children can reach their potential. We have each class (bar EYFS and Year 1) working on the same sport each term, which allows the children to see what they are working towards and encourages the sports to be practised during playtimes and lunchtimes. The older children enjoy sharing their skills with the younger ones and vice versa. The mixed classes mean there are opportunities for children to be challenged appropriately and also have extra support where necessary during their PE lessons.
Useful Websites
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Change4Life – Fun Activities for Kids
https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/activities
Great for family-friendly games, exercises, and tips to keep kids active. -
GoNoodle
https://www.gonoodle.com/
Fun movement and mindfulness videos perfect for keeping kids moving indoors or at home. -
Cosmic Kids Yoga
https://www.cosmickids.com/
Yoga and mindfulness sessions for kids, which can help improve balance, focus, and wellbeing. -
Sport England – Active Lives for Families
https://www.sportengland.org/
Useful information on how families can get active together and local opportunities. - Joe Wicks Kids Work Out Challenges
