Physical Education

Intent

At Kielder Primary School and Nursery, Physical Education plays a vital role in developing pupils’ physical competence, confidence, wellbeing and enjoyment of being active. Our PE curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils develop the skills, knowledge and motivation to lead healthy, active lives, both during their time at school and beyond.

We aim to inspire pupils to see physical activity as a positive, enjoyable and essential part of everyday life. Through a broad and balanced PE curriculum, pupils develop physical literacy, teamwork, resilience and a strong understanding of how physical activity supports both physical and mental health.

Our PE curriculum is ambitious and carefully sequenced to ensure clear progression in fundamental movement skills, games, gymnastics, dance, athletics, outdoor and adventurous activity (OAA) and racket sports. Pupils build both substantive knowledge (understanding of rules, techniques, tactics and healthy lifestyles) and disciplinary knowledge (how to practise, improve, evaluate and apply physical skills).

PE strongly supports the Thrive and Excel @ Kielder Framework by developing pupils’ wellbeing, confidence, resilience, teamwork, leadership and reflective thinking. Pupils are encouraged to persevere with challenge, support others, reflect on performance and take pride in personal improvement.

Implementation

Our PE curriculum is delivered through a strong partnership with Strike-It North, who provide weekly specialist PE teaching alongside class teachers. This ensures high-quality instruction, consistent progression and expert modelling of physical skills and teaching strategies.

The curriculum is structured around carefully sequenced units that ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum and clear progression from Reception to Year 6. Units include:

• Fundamental Movement Skills

• Invasion Games

• Gymnastics

• Dance

• Racket Sports

• Athletics and Outdoor & Adventurous Activity (OAA)

Each unit clearly sets out:

• Core physical knowledge and skills that pupils are expected to develop.

• Key vocabulary, including Tier 2 disciplinary vocabulary (e.g. balance, coordination, agility, stamina, technique, teamwork, resilience, evaluate, performance) and Tier 3 topic-specific vocabulary linked to each activity (e.g. dribble, pivot, forehand, sprint, rally).

• Progressive ‘I can’ statements that show increasing physical competence, independence and evaluative ability across year groups.

This structure is clearly set out in the Whole-School PE Curriculum and vocabulary framework.

Curriculum Structure, Sequencing and Mixed-Age Design

PE is carefully mapped across Reception to Year 6 to ensure that pupils revisit and build on key physical skills and concepts over time. Fundamental movement skills form the foundation in EYFS and KS1, with increasing emphasis on technique, tactics, teamwork and evaluation in KS2.

In our mixed-age classes, progression is secured through:

• Clear year-group-specific expectations within the same unit.

• Progressive ‘I can’ statements that show increasing control, tactical awareness and leadership.

• Long-term curriculum mapping that ensures pupils encounter and revisit key skills and activity types in a logical and cumulative sequence.

This ensures that learning is matched to pupils’ stage of development and that individual pupils build securely on prior physical learning across curriculum cycles.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning in PE at Kielder is active, inclusive and highly motivating. Strike-It North specialists and class teachers work together to model techniques, provide clear demonstrations and support pupils to practise, refine and improve skills.

Lessons are structured to include warm-ups, skill development, small-sided games or performances, and opportunities for reflection and evaluation. Pupils are encouraged to set personal goals, reflect on progress and support one another, building confidence, resilience and teamwork in line with the TEK Framework.

Mixed-age teaching is a strength. Younger pupils develop foundational movement skills, while older pupils refine technique, apply tactics and take on leadership roles, such as leading warm-ups or supporting peers.

Health, Wellbeing and Active Lifestyles

PE at Kielder plays a key role in promoting physical and mental wellbeing. Pupils learn about the links between physical activity, fitness, mental health and healthy lifestyles. These messages are reinforced through:

• PE lessons

• Assemblies and whole-school health initiatives

• Cross-curricular links with PSHE and Science

• Extra-curricular activities and school sport

This holistic approach supports pupils to develop positive attitudes towards exercise, self-care and wellbeing.

Competitive Sport, Swimming and Enrichment

Pupils in KS2 participate in a range of competitive sports opportunities through School Games and collaboration with local schools, including the North Tyne Schools Alliance and the wider Haydon Bridge Partnership. This allows pupils to experience competition, teamwork and representing their school in a supportive environment.

Swimming and Water Safety
All KS2 pupils take part in swimming lessons with qualified instructors at Wentworth Leisure Centre in Hexham. Swimming progress is tracked using Swim England’s Swim Charter, with certificates and badges awarded based on assessed outcomes. By the end of KS2, pupils are expected to be able to swim at least 25 metres competently, in line with National Curriculum expectations.

Assessment and Inclusion

Assessment in PE focuses on physical skill development, participation, decision-making and personal and social development. This includes:

• Ongoing formative assessment through observation and discussion.

• Use of peer and self-assessment, including video analysis where appropriate, to support reflection and improvement.

SEND pupils are supported through adapted activities, differentiated expectations, alternative equipment and additional adult support, ensuring access to the same ambitious PE curriculum and enabling all pupils to succeed and enjoy being active.

Impact

The impact of our PE curriculum is seen in pupils who:

• Develop strong fundamental movement skills and physical competence.

• Apply techniques and tactics confidently across a range of activities.

• Use PE vocabulary accurately to describe, evaluate and improve performance.

• Show resilience, teamwork and positive attitudes towards challenge.

• Understand how physical activity supports physical and mental wellbeing.

• Participate confidently in competitive and non-competitive physical activities.

• Demonstrate enjoyment of being active and motivation to stay healthy.

Assessment information, POP tasks, observations, competition outcomes and pupil voice demonstrate that learning builds securely over time and that pupils are developing both strong substantive knowledge and increasingly secure disciplinary understanding in Physical Education.

Through our PE curriculum, pupils leave Kielder Primary School and Nursery as confident, active and resilient young people. They demonstrate the TEK Framework competencies of wellbeing, teamwork, resilience, reflection and leadership, and are well prepared to lead healthy, active lives beyond primary school.