Once a week, Acorn House offers its students the opportunity to improve their physical ability and understand the fundamentals of healthy living by attending a very active and energetic PE lesson.
The English national curriculum in England for physical education (*) aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
  • Are physically active for sustained periods of time
  • Engage in competitive sports and activities
  • Lead healthy, active lives.

By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study. Each stage (EYL, KS1, KS2 and KS3) has its own objectives and success criteria, but all have one thing in common: Enjoyment. PE should not be seen by many as an obligation or something horrendous. It should be seen as something which can help us in life. Students need to master certain fundamental movement skills if they are to enjoy the wide range of physical activities, sports or recreational pursuits. Whether you are a professional athlete or a heart surgeon, an element of physical activity and precision is always needed.
Balance, coordination and agility are the three main areas which students work on. Each stage will have a detailed programme, which will allow them to improve the above areas and also understand other things related to PE. Individual and collective exercises are essential so that students are able to improve their ability.

(*)Information taken from the Department for Education, September 2013)

PE gives students the opportunity to:

  • improve/develop mental and physical skills
  • become more independent
  • increase physical competence
  • learn how to apply appropriate methods
  • make/take decisions individually and collectively
  • learn how to become patient
  • use creative approaches
  • team build
  • take initiative
  • take responsibility
  • improve verbal and non verbal communication (using parts of the body to communicate idea)
  • understand rules/instructions/boundaries and apply/respect them

The above is achieved by providing children with a mixture of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic methods, so that they can experience the various learning methods that exist. Games are an essential part of the criteria as is the use of different types of equipment. All this will be aided by various PEDPASS (Physical Education Daily Physical Activity School Sport) and Fundamentals exercises.
Throughout the year, PE may be connected to a topic which students are studying in another class, which means lessons may be adapted to meet other subjects’ needs. Flexibility is essential so that the enjoyment in learning is never taken away. If parents are concerned about their child’s participation in PE, the department is always open to discuss their child’s progress and to try and find together ways to support and improve their learning experience.

Main areas of learning and development

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P.E. WALT and Success Criteria

PE long term plan