PE & Swimming

Curriculum Intent

‘Anything is possible; don’t think limits.’ (Usain Bolt)

At Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School, our Physical Education curriculum aims to foster a love of physical activity and sport in all children. Our approach is built on three core concepts:

• Physical Awareness & Confidence: Developing pupils' understanding of their bodies, movement capabilities, and self-confidence in physical activities.
• Co-operation & Competition: Nurturing teamwork skills and a healthy approach to competition, teaching children to celebrate both personal and others' successes.
• Tactics & Skill Development: Building a progressive set of physical skills and strategic thinking across various sports and activities.

Through these core concepts, we strive to:

• Deliver Quality Learning: Our curriculum ensures a comprehensive and progressive approach to PE education. We aim to equip pupils with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to be successful in their chosen sporting interests and maintain an active lifestyle beyond primary school.
• Inspire Enthusiasm: We encourage curiosity and a positive attitude towards physical activity. Our goal is to ignite a passion for sports and exercise that extends beyond the classroom, fostering a desire for lifelong physical activity.
• Develop Teamwork: We recognize the importance of teamwork and community in sports. Our curriculum emphasizes collaboration, respect for others, and the development of social skills through physical activities.

Our intent aligns with our school's ethos by providing quality PE education that enthuses pupils about physical activity and fosters partnerships within and beyond the school community. We aim to develop pupils who understand the benefits of exercise to their health, can think creatively, challenge themselves, and work collaboratively in physical settings.

Implementation

Our approach focuses on delivering a comprehensive, engaging PE education that builds knowledge and skills progressively:

• Curriculum Structure: PE is taught twice weekly, with sessions led by school staff. Our curriculum, which draws upon aspects of the ‘PE Passport’ scheme of work, covers a wide range of sports including netball, cricket, hockey, athletics, tennis, and rugby, allowing children to apply skills and develop life-long interests.
• Physical Awareness & Confidence: Throughout the curriculum, we emphasize body awareness and movement skills. In the Early Years Foundation Stage, we encourage the development of fine and gross motor skills through a range of activities.
• Co-operation & Competition: We provide opportunities for both collaborative and competitive activities. Inter and intra-school competitions allow children to represent their house and school, fostering pride and teamwork. Our Sports Day celebrates achievements and provides a platform for friendly competition.
• Tactics & Skill Development: Our curriculum is designed to build upon children's prior learning, providing progression of skills and understanding to ensure children are progressively challenged throughout their school life. We use a variety of teaching methods, including demonstrations, guided practice, and peer learning to develop tactical understanding and skill proficiency.
• Cross-Curricular Links: We integrate PE with other subjects where appropriate. For example, we use ICT for recording and analysing performance, explore the science of health and nutrition, and develop sports-related vocabulary in English lessons.
• Assessment and Progression: We use ongoing assessment in lessons to support children in reaching their goals. Our PE Passport scheme provides a clear progression of skills and knowledge across all sports, ensuring consistent development throughout the school.

Key Resources

National Curriculum PE

AFPE Simple PE Progression Map

Swim England Guide for Primary School Swimming

Athletics Progression Map

Dance Progression Map

Gymnastics Progression Map

Invasion Games Progression Map

Net & Wall Games Progression Map

OAA Progression Map

Striking & Fielding Progression Map

Target Games Progression Map

Our strategy reflects our ethos through a well-structured, progressive curriculum; diverse and engaging physical activities; and partnership through team sports and community events.

Swimming

Swimming is a crucial part of our PE curriculum, recognized as both excellent exercise and a vital life skill. We provide swimming lessons from Year 2 through Year 6, ensuring all children have the opportunity to develop water confidence and safety skills. Our Hawksmoor Rookie Lifeguard scheme allows children to learn water and lifesaving skills, ensuring progress for swimmers of all abilities. By the end of Year 6, the vast majority of our pupils can swim the national requirement of 25 meters, with many exceeding this distance. We're proud of our contribution to South Northamptonshire’s high swimming proficiency rates.

2024-25 Swimming Data

• Percentage of Y6 pupils who can swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres. 94%
• Percentage of Y6 pupils who can use a range of strokes effectively. 98%
• Percentage of Y6 pupils who can perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. 97%

Extra-Curricular Clubs

We offer a wide range of sports clubs before and after school, reflecting our commitment to providing diverse physical activity opportunities. These clubs, run by dedicated staff members, change seasonally and align with local sporting competitions. Some of our offerings include football, netball, tag rugby, hockey, athletics, dance, cross country, cricket, rounders, multiskills and more. These clubs not only develop skills but also foster enthusiasm for sports and provide additional opportunities for children to find activities they enjoy.

For further information please visit the extra-curricular clubs section of our website.

Impact

The impact of our PE curriculum is evident in the following outcomes:

• Physical Competence and Confidence: Pupils demonstrate increased body awareness, improved movement skills, and greater confidence in physical activities. They show a willingness to try new sports and activities.
• Teamwork and Sportsmanship: Students exhibit strong collaborative skills and a healthy approach to competition. They can work effectively in teams and show respect for others' achievements.
• Skill and Strategic Thinking: Pupils show progressive development in sports skills and tactical understanding across various activities. They can apply learned skills in different contexts and demonstrate strategic thinking in game situations, reflecting our emphasis on 'Tactics & Skill Development'.
• Enthusiasm for Physical Activity: Students show a genuine interest in sports and physical activity, often pursuing interests beyond school. This enthusiasm reflects our school's ethos of inspiring a love for learning and physical activity.
• Health and Wellbeing Awareness: Pupils understand the importance of regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices. They can articulate the benefits of exercise and make informed decisions about their health.
• Inclusion and Participation: Our diverse offering ensures all children, regardless of ability, find ways to be active that they enjoy. This inclusive approach contributes to developing healthy lifestyles that include regular exercise.
• Swimming Proficiency: A high percentage of our Year 6 pupils meet or exceed the national swimming requirements, demonstrating the effectiveness of our swimming program.
• Extra-Curricular Engagement: Strong participation in our sports clubs and success in inter-school competitions reflect the enthusiasm and skill development fostered by our PE curriculum.

We assess these impacts through regular observations of learning, participation rates in extra-curricular activities, success in competitions, and discussions with pupils about their PE experiences. Our 2024 achievement of the Platinum School Games award for the third time demonstrates the overall quality and impact of our PE provision.

When children leave Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School, they are equipped with the physical skills, confidence, and enthusiasm to lead active, healthy lifestyles. They have a strong foundation in our core concepts of physical awareness & confidence, co-operation & competition, and tactics & skill development, preparing them for continued engagement in sports and physical activity throughout their lives.