Physical Education

Here at St. Mark’s we are firm believers that a high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities.

We provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way that 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.

Every class at St. Mark’s has PE timetabled lessons to ensure the children are keeping active and meeting the national requirements in physical education.

For more information on our teaching of PE across the year groups, see our curriculum overview:

• PE Curriculum Overview

Early Years

In Early Years Physical Development underpins everything that we do and is part of our everyday learning activities as it is one of the three prime areas within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Each prime area is divided into Early Learning Goals, for physical development these are:

• Moving and handling – skills enabling children to show good control and coordination in large and small movements. Children are able to handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.
• Health and self care – children knowing the importance of good health which includes physical exercise and a healthy diet. Children are able to manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs successfully, including dressing and going to the toilet independently.

Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1 we encourage the children to develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities. We ensure that the children are physically active for sustained periods of time and encourage them to engage in competitive sports and activities.

Through PE Session and through any other opportunity we encourage pupils to lead healthy, active lives.

During Key Stage 1 sessions pupils are encouraged to:

• Master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and co-ordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities.
• Participate in team games, developing simple tactics for attacking and defending.
• Perform dances using simple movement patterns.

Key Stage 2

Key Stage 2 Pupils will be taught continue to apply and develop a broader range of skills, learning how to use them in different ways and to link them to make actions and sequences of movement.

They should enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other. They should develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success.

During PE sessions pupils will be encouraged and taught how to:

• Use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination.
• Play competitive games, modified where appropriate (for example, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, netball, rounders and tennis), and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending.
• Develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance (for example, through athletics and gymnastics).
• Perform dances using a range of movement patterns
• Take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team.
• Compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best.

Other Provision

Dance Team-Teaching: DanceXchange provide team-teaching with every teacher for half a term to improve the quality of teaching of learning.

Gymnastics Team-Teaching: Sporting Elite provide team-teaching for most teachers for half a term to improve the quality of teaching of learning.

Lunchtime Clubs: Sporting Elite provide sporting clubs for key stage 2 children at lunchtime to teach new skills, ensure structure and improve behaviour.

Social Skills Clubs: Sporting Elite provide two social skills clubs with the focus on team games, sharing and working together. 

School Sports Crew: Sporting Elite provide two school sports crews with the focus on leadership, building confidence and esteem. 

Less Active Clubs: Sporting Elite provide two less active clubs with the focus on encouraging a more healthy and active lifestyle. 

Hamstead Hall PE Network: We work closely with the Hamstead Hall PE Network to provide sporting opportunities for all our children.

Sports Premium

For information on how the Government funding for PE and Sports has been spent, and the impact is has had at our school, see our dedicated Sports Premium page.

Swimming Information

National Curriculum requirements for swimming and water safety:

1. Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres.
2. Use a range of strokes effectively.
3. Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

Here at St. Mark’s we are lucky to attend Perry Beeches Leisure Centre for our swimming lessons.

During the course of the school year, children in years 3, 4 and 5 are taught how to perform the national curriculum requirements for swimming and water safety. In addition, year 6 children are given extra lessons in summer term 2 if they have met the required standard of 25 metres.