Physical Education

‘Intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong.’

John F. Kennedy


Intent

The overarching goal of Chandos' Physical Education (PE) curriculum is to furnish every student with a comprehensive and high-quality physical education experience. Our aim is to instil in them not just the requisite skills but a genuine passion for an active and healthy lifestyle, building good character and embedding our core values of ambition, determination and compassion along the way. As a school, we have dedicated ourselves to fostering competence and mastery, going beyond mere checkbox achievements in our curriculum design.

With this in mind, at Chandos, we are committed to creating an inclusive PE environment where each child, regardless of gender, race, or ability, feels valued, challenged, and supported. Our aspiration is not only for them to aspire to excellence but to provide them with every opportunity to realise their full potential in a secure and encouraging setting, thereby maximising their academic and life achievements.


Implementation and rationale

To achieve these objectives, we have identified seven core disciplines that guide our PE curriculum throughout a student's tenure at Chandos. These disciplines serve as the foundation for skill development and understanding. They are as follows:

By adhering to these disciplines, we ensure a progressive and comprehensive learning experience that allows students to build competence year after year, preparing them for their educational journey beyond our institution.

Starting in the Early Years Foundation Stage, we focus upon the Early Learning Goals around Gross and Fine Motor Skills. These include demonstrating strength, balance and coordination when playing along with moving effectively through jumping, running, climbing and dancing. This extends through Key Stage One where our PE curriculum concentrates on instilling and reinforcing fundamental movement skills. These skills encompass balance, agility, coordination, manipulation, control, and spatial awareness. By focusing on these basics, we lay the groundwork for the development of core muscles, enabling children to remain physically active for extended periods and fostering the pursuit of healthy, active lives.

As students progress into Years 1 and 2, they are introduced to simple ball control techniques, including handling, moving, and sending or receiving a ball. The curriculum places emphasis on the improvement of hand-eye coordination and basic throwing skills. Furthermore, from the beginning of Key Stage One, our PE curriculum places a particular emphasis on the creative aspect of physical education, especially within the domain of dance. Students are taught the relevant fundamental movement skills along with being encouraged to explore their artistic expression through dance. They are introduced to the use of themes and narratives as tools for crafting dance sequences which then progresses and evolves through Key Stage Two where they create more intricate and elaborate sequences. This progression aligns with our commitment to providing a holistic physical education experience that not only builds technical proficiency but also cultivates a sense of creativity and self-expression. 

In Key Stage Two, we build upon the foundation laid in the earlier stages, with a continued focus on motor competence. Tactical and strategic knowledge is introduced and refined, allowing students to apply a variety of skills in different sports and scenarios to maximise results.

Impact

At Chandos, we aspire to instil a love of learning through our broad and exciting Physical Education curriculum, encouraging children to develop their skills in a wide range of carefully selected disciplines, and express what they have learnt at every opportunity. Throughout the course of their time at Chandos, the children are provided with the opportunity to gain an understanding of different sports as well as how they play a role in the world around them.

At the end of every half term, children have the opportunity to showcase their skills in an inter-form competition. This is their opportunity to showcase and express what they have learnt during their topic by competing against their peers, thus showing how they have worked towards mastering skills in each discipline. In addition, during the midpoint and conclusion of the academic year, students are provided with the chance to further put into practice the skills they have acquired. This is achieved through participation in the Chandos Winter and Summer Games, which span a week and two weeks, respectively. These level one competitions offer a unique opportunity for the children to apply the knowledge and abilities they have gained not just in sports familiar to them, but also in diverse activities like boccia, new-age kurling, hockey, archery and more. This ensures that they can effectively transfer and employ their learned skills in a variety of sports, fostering a well-rounded and adaptable approach to physical education.