Our PE Intent

At Thomas Harding our curriculum is designed to inspire all children to succeed and excel in PE, sports and physical activity by building on skills already taught at Key Stage 1. The curriculum allows for all pupils to have opportunity to become physically confident, build self-esteem and self-belief while gaining a deeper understanding of ways to support their health and fitness including their emotional and mental health.

The curriculum is sequenced to allow children to build on skills and apply skills across a range of sports. The children are able to apply and develop a broad range of skills and learn how to apply them in different scenarios and related sports. All children have the opportunity through the sequenced programs to learn how to communicate, collaborate and compete with others. Ensuring all children have access to a range of sports that they may not have access to outside of school, building the cultural capital of all children. Every child having the opportunity to visit different environments for outdoor adventure activities. Every child will attend swimming lessons and be able to swim 25m with steps taken to support those who cannot. Children will develop greater understanding of strategies, tactics and rules for sports through the curriculum, with exploration of transferable skills, knowledge and understanding. They will take on different roles (umpire, coach etc) with the opportunity for sports leadership achieving thinking and decision-making skills.

Through the developing skills all children will grow an understanding of how to improve their performance and how to evaluate and recognise success but also the learning opportunities presented by failure. Developing the growth mindset through sport and PE for all children so that they have the resilience for the wider world by the time they leave Thomas Harding. Built into the curriculum are aspirational role models within sport to raise expectations of all children to have self-belief and self-efficacy.

There are opportunities built into the curriculum for the children to compete in sport and represent the school in line with our ASPIRE values. Activities are included to build and develop character for all children and help embed the values of fair play, respect and equality. Children are encouraged to join local clubs with clear sign-posting to routes into clubs.

The curriculum at Thomas Harding should ensure that all children leave Thomas Harding with a love of PE, sports and physical activity as well as being independent and effective learners. At secondary school they will engage in opportunities, clubs and teams. They will be able to choose GCSE PE, Sports Leadership and have active, healthy lifestyles.

Implementation

• Children participate in high-quality PE lessons twice a week covering two different sports/activities per term.
• Teachers use, and adapt, Complete PE and resources to ensure lessons across years show progression.
• Classes follow the PE overview to ensure pupils participate in a variety of sports, giving all children access to a range of sports and physical activities.
• Children are given wider opportunities to build character and embed values through regular teamwork activities, inter house events, sports festivals and Sports Day.
• Children participate in a variety of competitive sports as part of the School Sports Partnership. Each year group to attend at least 2 activities throughout the academic year.
• When in Year 5 all children will attend swimming lessons.
• Sports Premium Funding is used to increase physical competency of staff and children and also provides staff with resources and high-quality equipment.
• We provide children with opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities that are inclusive, enjoyable and increase children’s physical activity.
• Children are provided with their full entitlement to Physical Education and teachers ensure that no interventions take place during this time.
• The PE curriculum will work alongside the PSHE curriculum to educate and promote a healthy lifestyle, mental wellbeing and self-confidence.
• To promote a love for a range of sports children engage in different workshops, activities and sports throughout their time at Thomas Harding.
• Regular action plans, governor reports and pupil voice continue to monitor and improve Physical Education.
• Less active children are highlighted and encouraged to live a more active lifestyle. Afterschool clubs provided/wider range of sporting activities.
• Staff implement regular activity each day through active breaks and use of just dance/Go Noodle.
• Staff will track the acquisition of knowledge and skills across all PE units using Complete Pe.

The intended impact of our PE curriculum offer is outlined below:

• Children will enjoy physical activities and sports.
• All children will participate in physical activities.
• Children will experience consistent, high quality PE lessons.
• Children will have access to a broad range of extra-curricular activities.
• Children will understand the benefits of leading an active and healthy lifestyle and will feel empowered and motivated to continue to be active during their time at Thomas Harding and into their future education and employment
• Some children may expand their own opportunities based on an interest being kindled at school, e.g. join an external sports club.
• All children are included in PE lessons and all clubs are inclusive too.
• Improved, behaviour, focus and attainment in other areas of the curriculum.
• Improved mental health for all children.
• Children will understand some of the science behind how our bodies work and react when we exercise.
• Children will develop our ASPIRE  values and those of sport, including  Integrity, honesty,  determination, resilience, team work, self-belief, passion and respect.
• Children will develop team skills and build relationships and friendships with one another.
• Children will improve their fitness levels, balance and co-ordination.
• All children will be able to swim at least 25 meters and will understand how to be safe in and around water. (Results of this for the previous academic year can be found on the website on the Sports Premium page)

Assessment 

At Thomas Harding Junior, we assess Physical Education through ongoing teacher assessment. Teachers follow the criteria provided by Complete PE, which is fully aligned with the National Curriculum. Each unit of work is assessed, and these assessments are used to inform our evaluation about pupils’ progress and attainment. Final teacher assessments take into consideration evidence from Complete PE alongside key National Curriculum elements, including physical development and skill competence, application of skills, development of tactics for games and competition, personal development, and swimming and water safety (in Years 5 and 6).