Physical Education

Intent

Cullercoats Primary School Primary School believes that Physical Education (PE), experienced in a safe and supportive environment, is essential to ensure children attain optimum physical and emotional development and good health. As a school in a coastal locality we look to use our surroundings as much as possible to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Being situated within 50m of a shallow sandy bay and National Cycle Network Route 1, we regularly use a local leisure firm to offer our children paddle boarding and kayak sessions. All of our year 4 pupils participate in a cycle programme organised by Bike4Health whereby each pupil over an 8 week period gains stamina, skills and road awareness before completing a full day cycle ride to Newcastle and back – a 25 mile journey. We partner with the local Lawn Tennis Association Club and use their facilities to develop tennis within the school. We intend to deliver high-quality teaching and learning opportunities that inspire all children to succeed in physical education and in developing life skills. We want to teach children skills to keep them safe such as being able to swim. In 2022 we offered a unique surfing programme to disadvantaged pupils within our school. We also want to teach children how to cooperate and collaborate with others as part of an effective team, understanding fairness and equity of play to embed life-long values. Our curriculum aims to improve the wellbeing and fitness of all children at Cullercoats Primary School, not only through the sporting skills taught, but through the underpinning values and disciplines PE promotes. We develop early physical literacy skills in the early years and from here ensure that our pupils’ skills develop and improve year on year through a well-structured and progressive Play, PE and Sport curriculum. The school has been awarded The School Games Platinum Award four times in the last seven years.

Implementation

PE at Cullercoats Primary School Primary School provides challenging and enjoyable learning through a range of sporting activities including; invasion games, net & wall games, strike and field games, gymnastics, dance, swimming and outdoor & adventure.
The long term plan sets out the PE units which are to be taught throughout the year and ensures that the requirements of the National Curriculum are fully met.
Pupils participate in two hours of high quality PE lessons each week, covering two sporting disciplines every half term. In addition, children are encouraged to participate in the varied range of extra-curricular activities. Lunch time sports clubs are available each day and children can attend after school sport clubs three evenings per week. (These have included, Cheerleading, Dance, Multi skills, Netball, Hockey, Cricket, Gymnastics, Tennis, Football)
Children are invited to attend competitive sporting events within the local area through our School Games Organisers.. This is an inclusive approach which endeavours to encourage not only physical development but also mental well-being and competition. These events also develop teamwork and leadership skills and are very much enjoyed by the children.
Each year a small group of Year 6 children are invited to become Sports Leaders for the school. They develop into sporting role models for the younger children, assisting with lunch-time clubs, our annual Sports day and any other Sporting activities.
Children participate in workshops covering a variety of sports throughout the year. For example dance, kayaking, paddle boarding and skipping, again providing the children with an opportunity to develop, improve their fitness and to try something new.
Children in Year 6 swim once a week for half of the school year. In 21-22 we had 96% of the year 6 cohort able to swim 25 metres independently.
We have established the “Daily Mile” into our daily routine, to help meet the government target of all children being active for at least 60 minutes a day.
Our children in Year 4 have the opportunity to participate in a 3 day 2 night residential visit to High Borrans Outdoor and Adventurous Activity Centre. Where they participate in high and low level ropes courses, canoeing, full day walk and orienteering.
Our Year 6 pupils attend a 5 day 4 night residential visit to Dalguise in Perthshire where they, rock climb, abseil, kayak, problem solve and zip line.

Impact

We help motivate children to participate in a variety of sports through quality teaching that is engaging and fun. From our lessons, our children learn to take responsibility for their own health and fitness, many of whom also enjoy the success of competitive sports. We equip our children with the necessary skills and a love for sport and physical activity. They will hopefully grow up to live happy and healthy lives utilising the skills and knowledge acquired through play, PE and Sport.