'Physical education is the most effective means of providing all children and youth with the skills, attitudes, values, knowledge and understanding for lifelong participation in society.'

United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

We believe that PE can inspire every child to be the very best they can be and that our curriculum engages them in dynamic, varied and competitive exercise that nurtures them to challenge their minds, bodies and spirits. Our inclusive and progressive PE curriculum is designed to facilitate  the physical education of the highest quality. It is structured to draw on children's experiences and prior learning and there is a clear progression throughout lessons and year groups. Our PE lessons are based on the four key attitudes for life: be ready, be resilient, be responsible and be respectful. Furthermore, we aim for our PE curriculum to encourage our children to lead active and healthy lifestyles which will benefit their physical and mental health and wellbeing. Indeed, we strive to inspire our pupils through fun and engaging PE lessons that are enjoyable, challenging and accessible to all, in a safe environment where children feel safe to make mistakes and to support one another.

‘Intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong.’

John F Kennedy

At Churchill, we aim to ensure:

• There are opportunities for children to experience a range of healthy competition against others, and competing for a personal best.
• There are a variety of activities and planned sporting experiences to help children to learn about different forms of exercise and sport.
• Children are provided with carefully crafted opportunities to compete in sport and other activities that build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.
• An exciting PE curriculum is planned to provide children with opportunities to develop their fundamental movement skills and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others.
• Exploration of different physical activities allow the children to develop their skills and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success.

The National Curriculum

Our PE curriculum has also been designed and developed using the National Curriculum which aims to ensure that all pupils:

In KS1:

• 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.

In KS2:

• use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination
• play competitive games, modified where appropriate and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending 
• develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance 
• 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.

• 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.

Whilst the sports covered are fixed for each year group, the order may change due to logistics and events.

Through our progressive PE curriculum, children are able to build on and improve prior skills which include communication, technique and strategy. All children receive two hours of curriculum PE per week and as they progress through the school, they are given the opportunity to experience different sports and physically demanding activities. Furthermore, our curriculum has been carefully crafted so that previously learnt skills and techniques can be successfully applied. For example, throwing and catching skills taught in Key Stage 1 will benefit them when playing cricket, rounders, netball and basketball in Key Stage 2. We understand that exposure to different types of physical activity and sport allows children to find their niche and activities they enjoy, and we aim to encourage and inspire children to follow these interests outside of school.

Through our PE lessons, we aim to:

• Follow a progressive, evolving curriculum that, with time, builds on past understandings and combines new practices.
• Find ways to actively engage all children in moderate to vigorous physical activity for the majority of every lesson, a minimum of 75%. 
• Actively engage all children so that there are plenty of chances to practice the skill or technique being taught that day. Our quality curriculum will offer many practice opportunities, sometimes alone, sometimes with a partner and sometimes during small sided games in groups or teams.
• Design lessons so that children of all levels of attainment and confidence have great rates of success.  
• Foster and promote positive learning experiences in a warm, supportive atmosphere in which children are encouraged to exercise new skills and expand their fitness levels without feeling self-conscious.
• Ensure all our classes are as enjoyable as they can be, so that children appreciate and look forward to PE, both at primary and secondary school.

Why is Physical Education so Important?

At Churchill, we recognise that PE is a vital part of a child's education, growth and development. It forms a key part of our curriculum because:

• Children learn to appreciate the significance of exercising for a lifetime.
• Research shows that physical activity can boost our self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, making us less prone to illness and disease.
• Children learn the fundamental motor skills that will allow them to develop the physical capability that in turn will produce confidence and leads to safe and successful involvement in a wide range of sports.
• Children are encouraged to increase their fitness levels during PE, including muscular and cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility.
• Children can learn valuable lessons about accepting responsibility for their individual development leading to greater self-discipline.
• PE gives chances for children to be creative, cooperative and competitive and to face up to diverse challenges both as individuals and in groups.
• Physical activity can help to ease anxiety, tension and stress and will result in improved attention in class.
• Movement can be used to strengthen the understanding of several subjects taught in the classroom e.g. mathematics and has been shown to heighten the function of our brain.
• Many activities taught in PE require children to work in groups to solve problems.  These opportunities are outstanding for learning both leadership and teamwork.
• Sports activities are a superb way to meet and make new friends.  Being confident in your own physical capabilities inspires youngsters, and later adults, to be more social.
• PE is particularly vital to children who have yet to progress their verbal communication abilities.
• Children learn to develop the concept of fair play, honest competition, good sportsmanship and how to handle both success and defeat.