PE
At Atwood, our aim is that every pupil will leave our school healthy.We look to achieve by bringing together sport, health and fitness so that children understand about keeping healthy, learn how to look after themselves and learn new sports skills.
What is our approach to PE?
We take a holistic approach to physical education teaching along three strands: Sports, Health and Fitness. We have developed an exciting curriculum engaging children in a wide variety of regular physical activities, as well as giving children the knowledge and information they need to make healthy choices to live well balanced lives.
What does our approach to PE look like?
Sports
Our sports strand utilises the expertise of professional sports coaches to inspire pupils to succeed and excel in a broad range of competitive sport and physical activities. Key skills such as throwing and catching, passing, dribbling, keeping possession are developed across the year groups. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as a fairness and respect.
Health
Our health education programme aims to ensure children lead healthy, active lives through the development of a:
Healthy body – Pupils will learn about their bodies and how to keep them healthy
Healthy mind – Pupils will learn about the importance of a healthy mind. They will learn about how to keep themselves well and happy
Healthy lifestyles – Pupils will learn the importance of developing a healthy lifestyle including a healthy diet
Fitness
The aim of the fitness programme is to ensure that pupils receive regular exercise activity. Lessons are designed to raise the heart rate and improve overall fitness, stamina and flexibility. Units across the year and across the school develop the following:
Flexibility exercise Children become more agile when they are able to stretch and move their bodies in a full range of motion. Encouraging children to begin stretching in childhood can help them maintain limber physiques throughout life.
Strength and stamina Strength exercises can help children build healthy muscles. With an appropriately organised programme, children can advance their strength and stamina. Due to the age of pupils and risk of injury during growth spurts no weights will be used during strength classes; most workouts will focus on non-resistance training and developing stamina.
Aerobic exercise Cardiovascular training is an important component of children’s fitness, keeping their heart and lungs strong.
Circuit training Children can apply their strength and stamina, and develop greater levels of fitness through circuit training. Circuit training combines aerobic exercise, strength, stamina and flexibility.
How do we measure success in PE?
All Sports units work towards an end of unit assessment where children demonstrate their skills during a match or, in the case of sports like dance or gymnastics, a routine. Pupils measure and track improvement in their own fitness levels across the fitness sessions, and can talk confidently about what it means to have a healthy lifestyle.
