Being an Athlete at Gomeldon Primary School

Intent

At Gomeldon Primary School, we are committed to a high-quality, enquiry-based PE curriculum that will help pupils, in particular our most disadvantaged learners, to be confident in their ability to take part in any sporting challenge, safe in the knowledge that they have the skills that will enable them to succeed. We aim to provide our pupils with excellent quality teaching, using high quality resources. We want to develop lovers of physical activity and takers of risks. We want pupils that understand the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle and are keen to engage in activities that will help them to lead such a life. We want pupils that can work as effectively as leaders as they can as participators. Ultimately, we wish to foster a life-long enjoyment of physical activity and for our pupils to be competent and confident participators in such activities.

How does being an Athlete link with our school values?

Reflection: Pupils will reflect on what it means to be an athlete and the key knowledge and skills required to do this successfully.  Pupils will develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success.

Resourcefulness: Pupils will be encouraged to be resourceful in their approach to enquiry in PE. They will show initiative, ask well thought out questions and be prepared to use a variety of strategies to learn.

Resilience: Pupils will develop resilience by being prepared to persevere and stay involved in their learning, even when the process is challenging. Pupils will need to be able to accept feedback from others who may respectfully challenge their views and opinions or provide constructive feedback about how to improve their performance.

Relationships: Pupils will work collaboratively as athletes to explore key questions, sharing ideas and deciding on a suitable approach to an activity. Pupils will be supportive of each other and respectful as they share ideas and celebrate each other’s successes.

Implementation

At Gomeldon Primary School our curriculum follows the belief that fundamental movement skills underpin the entire physical curriculum. As such, we begin learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage by developing fundamental movement skills through activities both in and around the classroom as well as focused sporting sessions.

In KS1 we continue the children’s development of fundamental movement skills through activities that have a specific sporting focus, for example gymnastics or games. We develop the children’s basic understanding of different sports whilst keeping activities skills based. These skills are practised through individual repetition, paired or group activities and small-sided games. In KS2, the focus is on the development and mastery of these skills within a wider range of sporting activities. The children develop their ability to use and apply the skills they have previously learned through similar style activities to KS1 but eventually leading toward more full-sided game situations. Swimming is currently provided in Year 4. Our PE curriculum in KS1 and KS2 follows the National Curriculum framework and planning is supplemented by the Rising Stars ‘Champions’ scheme of work.

Alongside all of our focused skills learning, we also ensure that children learn why it is important to lead healthy lifestyles and how they can do so. We work to ensure they have a good understand of the basic principles of physical activity such as flexibility and speed.

Impact

At Gomeldon Primary School we assess the attainment and achievement of the children against the expectations of the National Curriculum. To do this:

• Pupils will be provided with termly opportunities to showcase their learning and athletic skills, evidencing the impact of quality first teaching in the subject.
• Pupil voice will provide evidence that pupils are able to talk with confidence and enthusiasm about what they have learnt in PE using subject specific vocabulary. Pupil voice will also demonstrate that many pupils enjoy PE and are able to recall their learning over time – they will be encouraged to make connections with prior learning.
• Lesson observations and planning scrutinies will demonstrate pupils are acquiring knowledge, skills and vocabulary in an appropriate sequence as well as demonstrating pupils have developed their knowledge and understanding, can use key vocabulary and have covered all skills in the progression document.