Physical Education

Our Vision

At St. Mark’s Catholic Primary School we want all children to develop a love of PE through positive experiences, in order to build physical literacy and body confidence, encourage healthy lifestyles and promote sport for life.

Subject Intent

What is our intent for all children to achieve in this subject?

Our aim is to give all children access to regular, quality and most importantly, positive experiences of PE throughout their time with us at St. Mark’s in order to promote sport for life. We want children to see and understand the benefits of leading an active lifestyle, so that they will continue to enjoy sports outside of school too, either through extra-curricular activities, with their families or in the wider community. PE has a high profile as it helps children enjoy school, grow friendships, build confidence and increase resilience. PE is used as a tool to encourage positive behaviour and to enable children to have unique and memorable experiences through involvement in sport.

Curriculum Overview

Year Group	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
Reception	Gross motor skills – agility, balance and coordination	Looking after our bodies – being healthy	Gross motor skills – movement, strength	Gross motor skills – position, spacial awareness	Fine motor control – using a smaller ball	Setting and achieving simple goals
Year 1	Throwing and catching	Dance	Gymnastics	Bat and Ball	Team Games	Athletics
Year 2	Football	Dance	Gymnastics	Throwing and Catching	Team Games	Athletics
Year 3	Team Games 1	Gymnastics	Dance	Team Games 2	Outdoor / Adventurous Activities	Athletics
Year 4	Team Games 1	Gymnastics	Dance	Team Games 2	Outdoor / Adventurous Activities	Athletics
Year 5	Team Games 1	Gymnastics	Dance	Team Games 2	Outdoor / Adventurous Activities	Athletics
Year 6	Team Games 1	Gymnastics	Dance	Team Games 2	Outdoor / Adventurous Activities	Athletics

PE Curriculum Overview – 2021/22

Swimming

At St. Mark’s, every class in Key Stage 2 experiences swimming lessons over the course of the year. We use Perry Beeches swimming baths in Great Barr. This is our local leisure centre to the school. Swimming lessons last 30 minutes and are taught by qualified staff.

The National Curriculum requirement for all children leaving Year 6 is to:

swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
use a range of strokes effectively
perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

Our aim at St. Mark’s is to get as many children as possible achieving the national curriculum requirement. We start children in Year 3 and we also give booster sessions to help children achieve the outcome intended. Our swimming timetable for 2023/24 is:

Autumn 1 – Year 6
Autumn 2 – Year 3
Spring 1 – Year 4
Spring 2 – Year 5
Summer 1 – Booster sessions
Summer 2 – Booster sessions

More Information

What does PE looks like in action at St. Mark’s…

All classes are assigned two hours of PE each week. Generally, one lesson is delivered by an outside provider working alongside class teachers, with teachers delivering the second themselves with the support of our PE curriculum and PE coordinator when required. In addition, there are a number of extra-curricular offerings available to years 1-6 before and after school each week.

Starting in reception class, PE helps children achieve the early years prime area objectives of physical development, but also, aspects of communication and language and personal, social and emotional development too. Children have opportunities to develop their gross and fine motor skills through a range of movements and activities. Into KS1, there is still a big focus on agility, balance and coordination in order for all children to become physically literate and confident in their movements. Finally, in KS2, there is more emphasis on tactical awareness and evaluating and improving performance, with a view to providing opportunities for every child to represent the school through sport if they choose to.

During each academic year, all children from classes 1-6 swim for a term. This enables them to learn this essential life skill and become confident around the water, as they have a block of 12 weeks every year. The outdoor and adventurous activities part of the curriculum is covered through visits and a residential, as well as planned curriculum time on site. We believe it is vital to provide challenge, build confidence and give all children opportunities to try new and exciting activities.

On site, we have a brand new astro-turf facility to add to our grass, adventure play equipment and playground areas. These, combined with a number of trained sports leaders and sports coaches, all helps to make break and lunchtimes active and enjoyable. Finally, cross-curricular links are strongly encouraged to enable our children to be active and enjoy the outdoors in other subjects too.