Physical Education

Physical Education in the Primary School is designed to enable our children to enjoy activities that will challenge them both physically and mentally. Right from the start, through our Motor Skills Learning programme, activities are fun, purposeful and allow creativity so that the children will, not only enjoy their time during lessons and ECAs, but start to build up the skills to progress into their later Primary years where they will be able to meet more demanding challenges, including competitive games, modified where appropriate.

Our curriculum has moved away from primarily teaching an individual sport to one that enables the children to play multiple sports with multiple skills to a pleasing standard for most, with others learning to play at higher levels as they move into the Senior School. This philosophy goes hand in hand with developing an understanding of healthy living, good nutrition and personal well-being which helps create more well-rounded children. Opportunities for leadership roles, organising and officiating are encouraged.

Our students gain the ability and commitment to remain physically active for sustained periods of time and reach high levels of physical fitness. We encourage them to acquire new knowledge and skills and develop an in-depth understanding of PE. We nurture a willingness to practise skills in a wide range of different activities and situations, independently, in small groups and in teams and to apply these skills in chosen activities to achieve high levels of performance. We encourage originality, imagination and creativity in the children’s techniques, tactics and choreography.

A strong swimming programme complements what is taught in PE lessons. All our children learn how to remain safe in and around water from the very beginning of their time with us. They are able to demonstrate good stroke technique and stamina so that, by the end of their time in the Primary School, an ambitious distance of 60m+ is achievable.

As our students get older and move through the Primary School, they increasingly reflect on their learning in both PE and in swimming. Our CHIP (Cognitive Health and Fitness Interpersonal Skills Performance) concept features right across the ages, to give the children guidance on how they are performing, think about how to improve, gain a strong knowledge of a healthy lifestyle and further develop their interpersonal and collaborative skills.