At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, our intention is to create a dynamic and inclusive Physical Education (PE) curriculum that fosters the development of knowledge, skills, and vocabulary across a wide range of sporting activities. We believe that physical education is essential not only for building physical fitness but also for cultivating values and life skills that extend beyond the sports field. By nurturing fairness, respect, teamwork, and perseverance, we aim to help our children grow into well-rounded individuals who are confident and resilient in all areas of life.

At the heart of our PE program is the belief that every child is unique, with their own set of God-given talents. We are committed to recognizing and developing these talents to their full potential, ensuring that each child’s physical, spiritual, and mental wellbeing is nurtured. Our approach to PE is holistic, supporting the development of the whole child—body, mind, and spirit—so they can thrive both inside and outside of the classroom. We aim to instill in them a love for physical activity, which will benefit their health and wellbeing throughout their lives.

Our PE curriculum is thoughtfully designed using an adapted model of the Early Years Framework and the National Curriculum. We ensure that our lessons are progressive, with each stage of learning building on the skills, knowledge, and understanding that children need to meet the objectives by the end of each Key Stage. To support this progression, we have introduced detailed progression documents that allow teachers to track and support the development of core skills, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed and grow.

At St Joseph’s, we believe in providing a broad and balanced PE curriculum that offers students access to a wide variety of high-quality sports and physical activities. From traditional team sports like football, basketball, and netball to individual activities such as athletics, gymnastics, and dance, our long-term plan ensures that children have the chance to explore a range of physical disciplines. This not only helps to develop their physical skills but also encourages them to discover new interests and talents.

We also place great emphasis on inclusivity in our PE program. Every child, regardless of their ability or background, is given the opportunity to participate, succeed, and enjoy physical activity. We encourage a growth mindset, where effort is celebrated, and children are supported to improve through practice and perseverance. Mistakes and setbacks are viewed as valuable learning experiences, helping children to build resilience and a positive attitude toward challenges.

In addition to developing physical skills, our PE curriculum is designed to promote essential values such as fairness, respect, and teamwork. Through sports, children learn the importance of working together, supporting one another, and playing by the rules. These lessons are invaluable in helping them to develop transferrable life skills that will serve them in all areas of their lives, including in their relationships with others and their personal development.

At St Joseph’s, we are passionate about helping children to develop a love for physical activity and a sense of pride in their achievements. Whether through daily physical exercise, competitive sports, or simply learning to move with confidence and grace, we aim to inspire our students to lead active and healthy lives. By fostering their physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, we help them to grow into confident, respectful, and compassionate individuals who are ready to make the most of their God-given talents and abilities.

Our PE Subject Leader is Tom Callaghan.

National Curriculum – Physical Education

PE