Physical Education

Our Curriculum:

At Bedford Primary School, we recognise that the curriculum we deliver is the toolkit we send our children out into the world with. It reflects our context, core values and the kind of citizens we want them to be. We have to be ambitious for them and prepare them for a rapidly changing digital world.

"No matter who you are, or where you are from, sport has the power to make you feel part of something bigger. It transcends language, nationality and politics. Sport unites us- it brings us together as athletes, as classmates, and as friends." Olympic Athlete, 2012

The skills of a great physical education student:

Demonstrate flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance through a variety of physical activities
Engage in competitive and co-operative sports and activities, in a range of increasingly challenging situations
Work collaboratively as part of a team
Communicate effectively
Use initiative and problem solving skills across a range of physical activities
Develop resilience to overcome personal barriers
Critically evaluate their own performances and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best
Lead healthy, active lives

Throughout the subject of PE, our pupils will also demonstrate additional traits from our Bedford Learner Profile including ambition, problem-solving and managing their own risks.

Our vision for physical education:

At Bedford Primary we believe that P.E. is a unique and vital contributor to every child’s physical development and wellbeing - both mental and physical. A broad and balanced physical education curriculum is designed to ensure all children develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others. Progressive and logically sequenced learning objectives, combined with varied teaching approaches, aim to provide stimulating, enjoyable and appropriately challenging learning experiences for all pupils. Throughout all tasks, it is intended that, with high expectations, low threat and careful scaffolding where needed, all children, irrespective of their innate ability, will enjoy success and be motivated to further develop their individual potential.

Whilst retaining its unique contribution to a pupil’s development, P.E. also has the potential to contribute to much wider areas of learning and wellbeing so meaningful cross-curricular opportunities are actively sought out and exploited.

The World Health Organisation states that ‘Children and youths aged 5-17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily’. At Bedford we aim to give every child the opportunity to be physically active for at least 30 minutes each day. We have fully embraced the Daily Mile over the past few years, supported by The Daily Mile Foundation.

About Physical Education at Bedford:

To ensure consistency and progression in key concepts and knowledge, from Years 1 to 6 we use and follow the Get Set 4 PE schemes of work. Units within the scheme are varied and engaging, and present pupils with opportunities to be creative, competitive and co-operative across a wide range of sports and activities.

During PE lessons, children face challenges as individuals, small groups or teams and they will learn to adapt their thinking to suit different challenges. Individuals are challenged, encouraged and given the confidence to refine the skills needed to progress at their own level. Opportunities are provided for individuals to demonstrate their learning, understanding and progress, allowing for effective assessment and next-steps planning.

To maximise the confidence of our teaching team, we are committed to offering regular and bespoke CPD for all staff. Along with the Get Set 4 PE platform, which provides effective planning and teaching support and CPD for staff, we also have access to training opportunities through the South Sefton Sports Partnership, of which we are members.

Click here to see the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Key stages 1 & 2.

The main elements to the PE curriculum:

Invasion Games (including basketball, cricket, football, netball, rounders and TAG rugby, through which pupils will apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending)
Dance (through which pupils will perform using a range of movement patterns)
Gymnastics & Yoga (through which pupils will develop flexibility, strength, co-ordination, control and balance)
Athletics (through which pupils will develop running, jumping and throwing skills, both in isolation and in combination)