Our intent in the teaching of PE and Sport and St Katharine’s is to provide a wide range of PE and sports across the year for all children in both Key Stage 1 and 2 in order for them to participate, engage and develop their physical and social skills. We aim to maintain a high profile of PE and sport as a core area of the curriculum by providing high-quality lessons that are delivered by specialist PE teachers, as well as teaching staff who receive regular CPD to enhance the teaching of PE and sport.
PE and sports teaching is mapped out on the curriculum map for each class, to give an overview of planned PE and sport at St Katharine’s. This links to and supports the preparation of children representing St Katharine’s in various festivals and tournaments during the year. They are able to practice and develop the necessary skills and knowledge required for competitive sports in their PE lessons. In addition, afterschool and lunchtime clubs are delivered by In2Sport to provide further coaching, enhance skills and promote the enjoyment of sport.
For several years now, Key Stage 1 and 2 children have participated in the daily mile initiative, often at the start of the day. This involves children running at a pace that suits them for a maximum of 10 minutes around the playground or field depending on the weather. This daily exercise not only allows children to increase their level of fitness but we believe it impacts positively on their readiness for learning in the classroom and on an individual’s well-being. Children in Reception and in the early part of Key Stage one also take part in other opportunities for physical activity such as ‘wake and shake’, big writing, and wake and shake.
St Katharine’s participate in In2Sport cluster events and tournaments with local schools as well as ‘Level 2 School Games’ tournaments which contribute towards the achievement of the ‘School Games Kite Mark’ award. We currently hold the Bronze award and aim to achieve the Silver award in 2020. The criteria for higher awards can be a challenge for smaller schools.
In support of a successful PE curriculum both in and out of school, we use the Sports Premium to enhance our provision. We aim for our use of this funding to ensure that the children at St Katharine’s Primary School have plenty of opportunities to develop their skills and that they are exposed to a wide range of sports and activities during their time with us.