At Thwaites School, Physical Education is a vital part of our broad and balanced curriculum. We want every pupil to develop physical competence, confidence and enjoyment in being active. Through PE, pupils develop their physical health and wellbeing while also learning the importance of teamwork, resilience, perseverance, respect and fair play.

Our PE curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and carefully structured for our mixed-age classes. It has been designed by the school rather than being delivered through a commercial scheme. This allows us to provide a coherent programme that reflects the needs of our pupils, the organisation of our classes and the opportunities available within our local area.

From Nursery to Year 6, pupils develop fundamental movement skills such as balance, coordination, agility and control. They learn to apply these skills across games, gymnastics, dance, athletics and outdoor activities. As they progress through the school, pupils are expected to perform with increasing accuracy and confidence, make effective decisions and apply their learning successfully in games and performance contexts.

Curriculum Organisation and Progression

Our PE curriculum is organised through clearly sequenced units. Pupils revisit the same sports and types of physical activity each year, with units taught at consistent points in the school year.

This deliberate revisiting enables pupils to retrieve previously learned skills, practise them again and apply them at an increasingly demanding level. Progression is achieved through greater control, accuracy, independence, tactical understanding and effective application rather than through one-off coverage of an activity.

Nursery children begin developing physical confidence, spatial awareness, coordination and control through planned activities and the wider Early Years provision. As children progress through Reception, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, expectations increase systematically so that familiar activities provide new and appropriate challenges.

Our curriculum enables pupils to:

• develop balance, coordination, agility and control;

• perform and combine increasingly complex movement patterns;

• apply skills confidently in games, gymnastics, dance and athletics;

• develop tactical awareness and make effective decisions;

• work successfully as an individual, with a partner and as part of a team;

• demonstrate resilience, perseverance and sportsmanship;

• understand how physical activity supports physical and mental wellbeing; and

• experience enjoyment, success and personal improvement.

Teaching and Learning

PE lessons include clear teacher modelling and demonstration, purposeful practice and sustained opportunities for physical activity.

Pupils are given time to practise, apply and refine their skills. Teachers use questioning and discussion to help pupils understand movements, make decisions, evaluate performance and consider strategies.

Safe practice, clear routines and positive encouragement underpin every lesson. Pupils learn how to use equipment appropriately, participate safely and show respect for other people.

In our mixed-age classes, pupils work within the same unit while receiving teaching, support and challenge appropriate to their age, prior experience and stage of physical development. Tasks become progressively more demanding as pupils develop greater competence and confidence.

Inclusion and Adaptation

Our PE curriculum is inclusive by design. We want every pupil, regardless of background, starting point or additional need, to participate successfully and experience achievement.

Teachers adapt activities through changes to:

• the task or expected outcome;

• equipment;

• playing area or available space;

• groupings and team organisation;

• rules;

• level of adult support; and

• degree of challenge.

These adaptations enable pupils to participate in the same broad learning while receiving appropriate support or challenge. Success is measured through each pupil’s improvement, confidence and application rather than through comparison with other children.

Swimming and Outdoor Learning

Swimming and water safety form an important part of our Key Stage 2 provision. Pupils are taught to develop confidence in the water, use a range of swimming strokes and understand how to keep themselves safe.

Pupils also take part in outdoor and adventurous activities during the school day. These experiences provide opportunities to solve problems, work collaboratively, develop resilience and apply physical and personal skills in unfamiliar situations.

Competition and Enrichment

The PE curriculum is enriched through local and inter-school competitions, intra-school events and our annual Sports Day.

These experiences give pupils authentic opportunities to retrieve and apply their learning, work as part of a team and represent Thwaites School with pride. They also encourage participation, sportsmanship and positive attitudes towards competition.

Our commitment to inclusive sport, physical activity and competition has been recognised through the School Games Mark Gold Award.

Assessment

Assessment in PE is practical, proportionate and directly connected to the curriculum. It reflects the physical and skill-based nature of the subject and prioritises pupils’ performance, application and improvement.

Teachers assess pupils continually during lessons by:

• observing movement, control and coordination;

• considering how effectively pupils apply skills in activities and games;

• asking questions about decisions, techniques and strategies;

• identifying improvements and misconceptions; and

• adapting activities in response to pupils’ performance.

There is no expectation that teachers complete written assessment during PE lessons. This ensures that lesson time is devoted to physical activity, practice and improvement.

At the end of each unit, teachers complete a concise assessment summary covering three knowledge endpoints and three skills endpoints. Teachers use this to consider whether most, some or few pupils are secure in the intended learning and to identify any learning that should be revisited.

Pupil reflection takes place verbally at the end of each unit. Using a shared reflection slide, pupils discuss the skills they have developed, recognise improvements and identify challenges or possible next steps. This supports pupils in thinking about their own learning without reducing physical activity or creating unnecessary written work.

Progress in PE is demonstrated through pupils’ increasing ability to:

• perform skills with control, confidence and accuracy;

• apply skills effectively within games and performances;

• make increasingly effective decisions;

• work independently and collaboratively;

• demonstrate resilience and sportsmanship; and

• participate confidently in different physical activities.

By the end of Year 6, we aim for pupils to leave Thwaites School with a broad range of physical skills and the confidence to participate in sport and physical activity. They should understand the importance of remaining active for their physical and mental wellbeing and possess the motivation and positive attitudes needed to lead healthy, active lives beyond primary school.