Intent
Physical Education is a foundation subject to which all children have an entitlement. The National Curriculum requires the development of a broad, balanced and relevant programme providing all pupils with experiences, which will encourage participation, enjoyment, physical development, social skills and an independent interest in health for life. The PE programme taught at Newburgh Primary School ensures that all children receive that entitlement.
At Newburgh Primary School, we aim to provide a high-quality Physical Education (PE) curriculum that promotes the physical, social and emotional well-being of our pupils. Our aim is to engage and inspire all children to participate in a range of physical activities, develop their skills, improve their fitness levels, and foster a lifelong love for physical activity. We want our pupils to understand the importance of leading an active, healthy lifestyle and to develop a positive attitude towards physical education and sport. Therefore, we have developed a broad and balanced PE curriculum that is inclusive to all and strives to nurture and develop the talents of our pupils ensuring they reach their full potential.
Here at Newburgh, children develop their skills through six multi abilities cogs – personal, social, cognitive, creative, physical, and health and fitness. This coincides with the twelve fundamental movement skills within agility, balance and co-ordination.
Implementation
Curriculum Design and Planning
Our PE curriculum is carefully designed and planned to ensure progression and coverage across all key stages. We follow the National Curriculum for PE, incorporating a range of activities such as athletics, gymnastics, dance, games, and outdoor adventurous activities. Additionally, we follow the Jasmin - Real PE schemes of work which follow a holistic development approach. Our curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to explore different roles within physical activity, including leadership and officiating, promoting teamwork and fair play.
Physical Education lessons are taught twice a week at Newburgh Primary School. One lesson is a skill and games-based lesson and the other is a unit within the Real PE scheme. Within Real PE each unit of work follows one of the six-multi ability learning cogs (physical, social, cognitive, creative, physical and health and fitness) and develops the twelve fundamental movement skills within agility, balance and co-ordination. Pupils always have access to high quality resources throughout a lesson and lessons are supported with the use of online visuals and videos. Pupils are taught and consistently use self-assessment techniques that are modelled to them by all staff in school through positive and supportive vocabulary, praise and looking at good practice.
As part of the National Curriculum, all schools must provide swimming lessons to ensure children leave Primary School swimming competently over a distance of 25 metres, use a range of strokes and able to perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. Here at Newburgh, we start teaching swimming from Year 3 onwards. Children attend one swimming lesson a week for a term.
Inclusive Practise
We recognize that every child is unique and has individual strengths and needs. Therefore, we adopt inclusive practices that enable all pupils to access and enjoy PE lessons. We differentiate activities and provide suitable adaptations and modifications to ensure every child can fully participate and make progress. Through Real PE lessons the class work together on the same key teaching point and skill, whilst at the same time, there are opportunities to challenge and support pupils to demonstrate further achievements through the coloured twelve skills set progressions.
Specialised Staff and External Partnerships
As part of our outstanding PE provision, we employ a specialist PE teacher who is passionate about the subject area. They provide high-quality instruction, ensuring that pupils receive expert guidance and support in developing their skills and confidence. Additionally, our sports coach ensures there are a range of physical and sporting opportunities during break and lunch times available for all children to access.
At Newburgh, we foster strong links with external sports clubs, coaches, and organisations to enhance the range of opportunities available to our pupils. These partnerships offer expert coaching, broader experiences, and pathways to participation beyond the school setting. We regularly attend a variety of sporting events throughout the year allowing children the opportunity to experience new sports, showcase their skills and promote their social and emotional well-being.
Our children really enjoy the opportunities we provide with external partnerships. Over the last year our children have had the opportunity to attend hockey, football, netball and rugby events.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
At Newburgh we firmly believe in the value of extra-curricular activities in enriching pupils' experience of physical education. Throughout the year, we offer a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and teams. These provide opportunities for pupils to further develop their skills, compete, and socialise in sports clubs, inter-house competitions, local fixtures, district and county-level events. We have had children represent us in district, county and national events!
Impact
Through our engaging and progressive curriculum, pupils make substantial progress in the development of their physical skills. They acquire competence across a range of activities and become confident in applying these skills in various contexts. Regular physical activity in PE lessons results in improvements in fitness levels, contributing to overall health and well-being. Participation in team-based activities, group work, and collaborative tasks fosters the development of personal and social skills. Pupils learn to communicate effectively, cooperate with others, and demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges. Our lessons avoid placing children in comfort and panic zones as staff coach and guide children so that they are able to self-assess their own ability in lessons, allowing the children to know what their next steps are.
Our approach to PE encourages pupils to develop positive attitudes towards physical education and sport. They learn to appreciate the importance of a healthy lifestyle, become motivated to undertake regular exercise outside of school, and explore a variety of activities beyond the curriculum. Pupils develop a growth mindset, embracing challenges and celebrating success, both their own and that of others. Moreover, they develop an understanding of fair play, respect, and positive sportsmanship.
