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Key Stage 2


PE

PE at New Heights – where every move builds strength, teamwork, and confidence!

About PE at New Heights - Key Stage 2

At New Heights Primary, we are committed to providing a high-quality Physical Education (PE) curriculum that promotes physical activity, healthy living, and a positive attitude toward fitness. Our PE program for Key Stage 2 focuses on developing students’ physical skills, teamwork, and confidence, while encouraging them to enjoy a variety of activities that foster lifelong fitness habits.

PE at New Heights is designed to engage every child, regardless of ability, and to support their physical, social, and emotional development. Through a broad range of activities, from team sports to individual challenges, we aim to inspire our students to appreciate the importance of staying active and healthy.

Subject Content

Our PE curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive and balanced approach to physical education, allowing students to develop key skills and a love for physical activity. The program ensures students make progress each year, building on their previous learning and experience.

Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4)

  • Year 3 Topics:
    • Multi-skills (basic movement skills such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching)
    • Gymnastics (balance, coordination, and basic gymnastic movements)
    • Dance (creative movement and expression)
    • Swimming (water safety and basic swimming strokes)
    • Team Sports (football, basketball, and basic game strategies)
  • Year 4 Topics:
    • Athletics (running, jumping, throwing, and competition techniques)
    • Gymnastics (more advanced floor routines and apparatus work)
    • Dance (developing sequences and performance)
    • Swimming (improving strokes, stamina, and water safety)
    • Outdoor and Adventurous Activities (team-building and problem-solving)

Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6)

  • Year 5 Topics:
    • Striking and Fielding (cricket, rounders, and basic team play)
    • Gymnastics (advanced balance, coordination, and group work)
    • Dance (choreography and performance skills)
    • Swimming (techniques, stamina, and water safety)
    • Invasion Games (netball, football, and hockey)
  • Year 6 Topics:
    • Athletics (advanced running techniques, relays, and field events)
    • Outdoor and Adventurous Activities (team challenges, map reading, and navigation)
    • Striking and Fielding (improving game tactics and skills)
    • Gymnastics (complex routines and performances)
    • Health and Fitness (understanding the body, fitness testing, and lifestyle choices)

Across all year groups, children engage in practical, hands-on activities to develop their physical abilities and teamwork skills. This includes:

  • Practicing movement and coordination
  • Engaging in team sports and competition
  • Working collaboratively to achieve goals
  • Focusing on personal health and fitness

PE is energising

Curriculum Principles

Our PE curriculum is built on principles that guide the teaching of physical education, ensuring all students have a fulfilling and rewarding experience. These principles focus on fostering a positive attitude toward physical activity, developing skills, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

  1. Alignment with the National Curriculum
    PE at New Heights fully aligns with the National Curriculum, ensuring all required knowledge and skills are covered. This provides a well-rounded education in physical development that supports students’ growth and well-being.
  2. Progressive Skills Development
    Our curriculum is structured to develop skills progressively, ensuring students are challenged as they move through Key Stage 2. They build on prior knowledge and improve their physical abilities year after year.
  3. Inclusive Participation
    Every student, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to participate fully in PE. We provide differentiated tasks and support to help every child develop their skills and build confidence in physical activities.
  4. Focus on Teamwork and Cooperation
    PE at New Heights emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and collaboration. Whether in team sports or group challenges, students learn how to work together, support each other, and respect differences.
  5. Health, Fitness, and Well-being
    In addition to physical skills, our PE curriculum teaches students about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including the benefits of regular exercise, nutrition, and mental well-being.
  6. Real-World Applications
    PE is linked to real-world experiences, showing how fitness, team sports, and healthy living are part of everyday life. This relevance helps students understand the importance of staying active and taking care of their bodies throughout life.
  7. Cross-Curricular Links
    PE connects with other areas of learning, such as science (the human body and exercise), mathematics (measuring performance), and literacy (following instructions and working with others). These links deepen students’ understanding and application of their learning.
  8. Building a Lifelong Love of Sport
    The goal of PE at New Heights is not only to develop physical skills but also to inspire a lifelong love of physical activity. Through a variety of sports and activities, we hope to encourage students to stay active, healthy, and engaged with sport throughout their lives.

Assessment and Feedback

We believe that assessment and feedback in PE are vital to helping students improve and reach their potential. Our approach to assessment ensures that every student is supported in their physical development while also celebrating their achievements.

Assessment

Assessment in PE is ongoing and focuses on practical skills and participation. It includes:

  • Formative Assessment: Teachers observe and assess students during lessons to provide immediate feedback and support.
  • Skill-Based Assessment: Students are assessed on their ability to perform physical skills, such as running, jumping, and throwing, and how they apply these skills in sports and activities.
  • End-of-Unit Reviews: Summative assessments allow students to demonstrate what they have learned by applying their skills in a final activity or performance.
Feedback

Feedback in PE is constructive, encouraging, and focused on helping students improve. It includes:

  • Providing specific praise for effort, improvement, and teamwork.
  • Offering guidance on how to refine skills and techniques.
  • Helping students reflect on their performance and set goals for future development.

 

By combining assessment and feedback, we ensure that all students have the opportunity to develop their physical abilities and grow in confidence.

Links to Everyday Life

PE is more than just a subject; it’s a way of life that supports students’ physical, emotional, and social development. Through PE, we encourage students to connect what they learn in the classroom to their everyday lives and future activities.

Understanding Health and Fitness: Students learn how physical activity improves their overall health, boosts energy, and reduces stress. This understanding helps them make healthy lifestyle choices.
Developing Personal Responsibility: PE encourages students to take responsibility for their own fitness, set goals, and stay motivated to improve.
Teamwork and Social Skills: Whether in sports or group activities, PE teaches students how to work together, share, communicate, and support others—skills that are vital in everyday life.
Making Active Choices: By engaging in a wide range of physical activities, students discover how to make exercise a regular part of their routine, promoting long-term health and well-being.
Promoting Emotional Well-being: PE also contributes to emotional health by providing an outlet for stress, boosting self-confidence, and helping students develop resilience and perseverance.

PE at New Heights ensures that students not only develop physical skills but also grow in character, confidence, and understanding of the world around them. Through active participation, they learn valuable life lessons that stay with them long after they leave school.

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