Physical Education

‘‘A bicycle ride around the world begins with a single pedal stroke’’.  – Scott Stoll

PE at Washingborough Academy

Intent

At Washingborough Academy the intent of teaching Physical Education (P.E.) is to give children the understanding and tools required to make a positive impact in their own health and wellbeing. We want all children to experience a wide variety of sports and fundamental skills which will enhance life-long fitness and a love of sport. The staff are passionate about delivering high quality teaching and learning opportunities that inspire all children to develop their knowledge of how exercise can improve physical and mental attributes. We believe it is important that children experience working both individually and as part of a team, as well as encouraging children to take part in ‘intra’ and ‘inter’ competitions. The curriculum encompasses our school values such as ‘humility’ and ‘respect’, underpinning the core principles that P.E. promotes.

Implementation

Our inclusive P.E. curriculum is delivered in a way that motivates and engages children, allowing teachers to adjust their lessons to suit the needs of the class. The programme that we use is P.E. Planning, which embeds the National Curriculum and provides consistency across all key stages. All year groups participate in high quality, weekly sessions, where they explore a variety of activities including: Dance, Gymnastics, Multi-sports, Athletics, Football, Netball, Volleyball, Golf and Swimming (Key Stage 2 only). This is either led by the Class Teacher or Premier Education, who we partner with to deliver an exceptional and fun learning experience. Our younger children are given the opportunity to develop their fine and gross motor skills and these are further built upon with more complex activities as the children progress through the school. Key Stage Two year groups have allocated terms where they receive weekly swimming lessons, with the aim that by the end of the Year Six they are able to swim 25 metres unassisted.

We ensure that physical activity is embedded throughout the school day and strongly believe in the importance of teaching the children about the links between physical and mental health. Therefore, we have a weekly Wellbeing ‘Let’s Move’ session and also embed initiatives such as The 1K Walk, Teach Active, BBC Super movers and Just Dance.

As a ‘Gold Schools Games Award’ school, we encourage and coach the children to improve on their own performance through feedback and once a year celebrate sports through ‘Sports Week’. This gives the children the opportunity to try a range of sporting activities including kick boxing, hula-hooping, cricket and dance, and inspires them to pursue out of school clubs based on their experiences. Included in this week is also our annual ‘Sports Day’, where all children compete representing their house. Parents come in to celebrate the children’s sporting achievements and the new records that have been set. We often host and take part in a vast amount of inter school sporting events, including football tournaments and cross country races, which bring great enjoyment and team work opportunities for our children.

At Washingborough Academy we encourage ‘Active Travel’ and we take part in the yearly ‘Big Walk and Wheel’ week event.  We are proud to provide regular cycling opportunities including lessons in Key Stage Two, and the annual 16 mile ‘Bardney Bike Ride’ for all of Year 3 and 4.

The curriculum focuses on four key areas:

  • Develop confidence to be able to take part in a broad range of physical activities
  • Ensuring children are active for sustained periods of time
  • Motivate and engage children to take part in competitive sports and activities
  • Lead healthy, active lives

Impact

The impact of our P.E. curriculum is measured in a variety of ways:

  • Discussions with children in lessons
  • Questioning children to find out about sports and skills they would like to learn
  • Learning walks
  • Pupil’s voice
  • Termly assessment
  • School Games Mark
  • Instructional swimming to achieve National Curriculum standards
  • Signposting children to outside clubs and PE events

By the time children leave Washingborough Academy they will:

  • Develop fundamental skills and apply them to a variety of sports and activities
  • Be given the opportunity to obtain 25 meters in swimming
  • Develop skills to achieve their personal best
  • Be inspired and given new opportunities to learn new sports, inside and outside of school
  • Develop a love of sport and physical exercise
  • Understand how sport can impact their wellbeing and mental health

‘‘Intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong.’’  – John F. Kennedy