At West Denton Primary School, we believe that Sport and Physical Education play a vital role in achieving our vision for every pupil, with the power to positively impact their lives. We are committed to providing a high-quality, inclusive PE curriculum that inspires all children to enjoy, succeed and excel in both competitive and non-competitive activities, while developing a lifelong love of physical activity.

We provide a safe and supportive environment where pupils can build confidence, supporting both their physical and mental wellbeing. Through a wide range of sporting opportunities, we encourage children to develop resilience, teamwork and respect—values that they can apply both within school and in their everyday lives.  We believe that Physical Education, delivered in a safe and supportive environment, plays a vital role in pupils’ physical development and wellbeing. Through inclusive and appropriately challenging activities, all children are encouraged to succeed, build confidence and reach their full potential.

National Curriculum Aims

Our PE curriculum is designed to inspire pupils to enjoy, succeed and excel in a wide range of physical activities. It promotes physical confidence, supports both physical and mental health and encourages a lifelong commitment to fitness.

We aim to:

• Develop pupils’ physical, social and thinking skills for success in sport and life
• Build confidence, resilience and self-esteem
• Promote respect, fairness and sportsmanship in line with our school values
• Develop fundamental movement skills, including agility, balance and coordination
• Enable pupils to plan, perform, evaluate and improve their performance
• Encourage understanding of health, fitness and the importance of an active lifestyle
• Provide opportunities for collaboration, competition and personal challenge
• Promote safe practice and responsibility for wellbeing

Through a broad and balanced curriculum, pupils participate in games, gymnastics, dance, athletics, outdoor activities and swimming, developing confidence, teamwork and a positive attitude towards physical activity.

Key Stage 1

Pupils develop fundamental movement skills and build confidence through a range of activities. They learn to:

• Master basic movements such as running, jumping, throwing and catching
• Develop balance, agility and coordination
• Participate in team games with simple tactics
• Perform simple movement patterns in dance

Key Stage 2

Pupils build on these skills, applying them in different contexts and developing greater control and understanding. They:

• Use and combine a range of movements with increasing confidence
• Play competitive games and apply basic attacking and defending principles
• Improve flexibility, strength, technique and balance
• Perform more complex dance sequences
• Take part in outdoor and adventurous activities
• Evaluate their performance and strive for personal improvement

Swimming and Water Safety
All pupils are taught to:

• Swim confidently over at least 25 metres
• Use a range of strokes effectively
• Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

Overview