Physical Education

Physical Education at Penwortham Primary School

At Penwortham Primary School, our Physical Education (PE) curriculum develops pupils’ confidence, physical competence and enjoyment of being active. We want every child to lead a healthy, active lifestyle, build resilience, and understand the importance of both physical and mental wellbeing.

Our approach reflects our school values of Aspire, Belong, Care and Discover, encouraging pupils to challenge themselves, work together and develop positive attitudes that extend beyond sport into everyday life.

Our Physical Education Curriculum

Intent

Our PE curriculum is designed to:

develop physical skills, coordination and control
promote healthy, active lifestyles and positive wellbeing
build resilience, confidence and perseverance
encourage teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship
provide a broad and balanced range of physical activities

We aim for all pupils to feel confident, included and motivated, regardless of their starting point.

Implementation

Our Physical Education Journey

PE begins in the Early Years through structured play, movement and dance, helping children develop balance, coordination and confidence.

As pupils move through the school, learning builds progressively:

Key Stage 1: fundamental skills through games, gymnastics and dance
Key Stage 2: applying skills across a wider range of activities, including athletics, swimming, invasion games, net and wall games, and outdoor activities

Pupils develop understanding of:

movement, balance and coordination
teamwork, cooperation and fair play
resilience and perseverance
how physical activity supports health and wellbeing.

How Physical Education Is Taught

PE is taught through two weekly lessons, supported by the Get Set 4 PE scheme, which ensures clear progression and full National Curriculum coverage.

Learning is enriched through:

specialist coaching from Pro Sport.
inter-school competitions and festivals
swimming lessons (Years 3 and 4)
active playtimes and movement breaks

Playtimes are carefully designed to support both physical activity and social wellbeing, with a balance of active and calm opportunities.

All lessons are inclusive and adapted, ensuring every pupil, including those with SEND, can participate and succeed.

We use the Get Set 4 PE scheme to support the delivery of a coherent, progressive and high-quality Physical Education curriculum. The scheme has been carefully selected to align with the National Curriculum while providing clear progression of skills and knowledge from Early Years through to Key Stage 2. It enables staff to deliver well-structured lessons with consistent expectations, ensuring all pupils build on prior learning and develop competence across a broad range of physical activities. The scheme supports our school values of Aspire, Belong, Care and Discover by promoting inclusivity, challenge and pupil engagement, while also allowing flexibility for teachers to adapt lessons to meet the needs of all learners, including those with SEND.

Impact

As a result of our PE curriculum, pupils:

develop confidence, resilience and enjoyment in physical activity
improve their physical skills and coordination
understand how to lead healthy, active lives
work effectively as part of a team
show perseverance and pride in their achievements

By the time they leave Penwortham Primary School, pupils have the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to continue enjoying physical activity beyond primary school.

Swimming Provision

Swimming is an important part of our PE curriculum.

Pupils in Year 3 attend weekly swimming lessons. Our aim is for all pupils to:

swim at least 25 metres confidently
use a range of strokes effectively
perform safe self-rescue

Progress is carefully monitored, with additional support provided where needed.

Enrichment and Wider Opportunities

We provide a wide range of opportunities beyond lessons, including:

extra-curricular sports clubs
inter-school competitions and festivals
intra-school house competitions
Sports Leaders and Play Leaders
swimming opportunities

These experiences develop teamwork, leadership and confidence, while encouraging lifelong participation in physical activity.

Inclusion and SEND

PE at Penwortham Primary School is fully inclusive.

We support pupils through:

adapted tasks and equipment
modified rules and activities
additional adult support
clear modelling and structured routines

This ensures all pupils can participate, succeed and enjoy PE.

Active Lifestyles and Wellbeing

Physical activity is central to school life. Pupils benefit from:

daily opportunities to be active
active and inclusive playtimes
movement breaks throughout the day
links to community physical activity

We are proud to be working towards becoming a Parkrun School, encouraging families to stay active together beyond the school day.

Awards and Recognition

We are proud to have achieved the Platinum School Games Mark (2024–2025), recognising:

high levels of participation
a wide range of sporting opportunities
strong leadership and pupil involvement
commitment to inclusion

Parkrun school

With our links across school we are also aiming to become a Parkrun school... so watch this space!

Becoming a Parkrun school will mean:

Connecting with your local junior parkrun(s) strengthens community links and fosters a sense of belonging. It provides opportunities for everyone to come together in a positive, inclusive environment outside the classroom.
It’s not just running and walking. Everyone can also volunteer with junior parkrun and build confidence, develop new skills, and contribute meaningfully to the community. These experiences support the national educational framework.
It offers the ability to put the PE and PSHE curriculum into practice in the real-world, demonstrating commitment to holistic education.
67% of parents report that junior parkrun improves their child’s physical activity levels and their enjoyment of it too. Children report feeling proud, full of energy, and confident.