Physical Education at Oxford Grove

At Oxford Grove, our curriculum aim is to provide high quality Physical Education that builds progressively on prior skills, knowledge and understanding. Embedding Physical Education and physical activity within our school is at the heart of our curriculum, in order to support not only our children’s physical development but their emotional well-being too, as this has never been as important as it is now. We understand the significance and the impact this subject has on our children and we pride ourselves in developing new and effective learning opportunities to create a curriculum that provides an active start for all pupils at a young age.

We understand when pupils move through a well-sequenced curriculum their self-efficacy increases because of increased knowledge and competence. To have the best chances of establishing and maintaining physically active lives both across a broad range of activities and in the long term, it is important that pupils develop secure foundations for movement. At Oxford Grove, starting with our EYFS Physical Education curriculum, this allows our children to experience movement, interaction and engagement through structured play. They are given opportunities to understand rules and boundaries, using a variety of equipment and working both independently and with others. To do this, they need to develop adequate levels of fundamental movement skills (FMS) within the early years and this underpins our EYFS curriculum. The content has been carefully sequenced to bridge the gap between play and the KS1 National Curriculum for Physical Education. Throughout Key Stage 1 and 2, we have created opportunities for our children to transfer and build on their declarative knowledge, procedural knowledge and physical skills of the National Curriculum through multiple units.

We pride ourselves in providing our children with opportunities, within their Physical Education lessons, to improve the quality of their life by boosting their stamina, enhancing their ability to concentrate and maintaining focus across the whole curriculum. At Oxford Grove, we believe a physically active child will also have a healthy heart. The mental health of our children is imperative and our Physical Education curriculum plays a huge part in making our children feel good by elevating their mood, inspiring their positivity, encouraging the development of tolerance, helping them to relieve stress and maintaining mental and emotional wellbeing whilst also improving energy levels.

At Oxford Grove, we believe one of the most important life lessons for our children to learn, for the health of their bodies and minds, is the importance and necessity of regular exercise. We believe, that as a school, we are constantly striving for this ambition and this outcome is evident in everything we put into our Physical Education curriculum.

Physical Education Enrichment

Extra Curricular Clubs – promoting a love of sport and providing our pupils with wider opportunities to learn new skills.

Our extra-curricular clubs that take place before, during and after school cater for all year groups across the school, and cover multi-skills (key skill activities that improve balance, co-ordination and agility) and a range of sports, including Football, Cricket, Handball, Dodgeball, Rounders and Basketball. The clubs aim to pre- teach children skills to support them within our P.E lessons and learning as well as target children to develop their fitness and stamina as well as challenge our top sporting pupils.

Our Breakfast Club provision also includes a range of physical activities and games, such as dodgeball, parachute games, wake & shake and multiskills. Additional targeted support is also provided during Breakfast Club to help build pupil confidence and a love of sport

Workshops and experiences beyond the school – promoting a love of sport and supporting our pupil’s mental wellbeing

Year 6 take part in an annual three day trip to the Anderton Centre. This trip focuses on a range of physical activities, including archery, kayaking, abseiling and orienteering.

Examples of some of the workshops that are part of our PE enrichment:

Medical Mavericks

This workshop allows our pupils to take part in 10 sports science tests to compare themselves to each other and to some of the world’s greatest athletes! They each receive a score card to record their scores on as they test their speed, power, strength, endurance and jumping ability! Some of the activities include: The Accelerator – race a virtual Usain Bolt, recording power output on a Watt bike and chance to test reactions on the BATAK wall and many more! This workshop also inspires our pupils to beat their personal best and to be the best they can! 

A Life

This workshop provides a carousel of activities based around all areas of healthy living (including healthy eating, brushing teeth, and drinking water). Within this, children also take part in a fitness workshop where they can improve their fitness levels and learn new strategies to keep active and work out at home.

Military workshop

This workshop incorporates team building activities, physical exercises and obstacle courses . Through the Military Style Team Building sessions they reinforce positivity and a ‘can do attitude’ within our children. Teaching them how to speak to each other confidently to support many personal boundaries whilst reinforcing confidence and self-worth. The Mobile Assault Course used is delivered by Ex-Military Instructors in a fun and constructive format. They promote adventurous activity within and outside a child’s comfort zone whilst focusing on encouraging maximum effort and a team ethos. This assault course is also a great all round exercise session which engages mind and body whilst exploring the outdoors in a challenging alternative way, thus leaving them with them with a great sense of achievement.

Wheelchair awareness

This workshop incorporates a range of physical activities, including wheelchair basketball and synchronized wheelchair dancing.

Bikeability

Reception learn lots of practical cycling skills and how to cycle safely as part of this workshop.

Rock climbing

This workshops provides a mobile climbing wall where children can take it in turns to try to reach the top of the wall on an auto-belay.

Bollywood dancing

Parents and children can attend this after school workshop to learn this style of dance with their loved ones.

Zulu dance and music workshop

A professional cast of Zulus from Kwa-Zulu Natal and South Africa, teach children traditional Zulu Singing, dancing and drumming which provides an authentic South African experience. This is a very upbeat workshop and gets children to be active in a fun way!

Dance workshops

Dance workshops are provided to children linked to topics and celebrations throughout the year such as: Remembrance Day and Diwali. These workshops often include full performances to parents and peers to help inspire children and improve their confidence.

Archery

This workshops involves children developing the skill of using a bow to shoot arrows at different targets.

Competitions – promoting and developing a love of sport by representing Oxford Grove in a variety of competitions.

Oxford Grove takes part in a range of sporting competitions with other schools.

These include inter-school matches and large tournaments, in an array of sports including cricket, football, gymnastics, swimming, handball, rounders and dodgeball (just to name a few).

At Oxford Grove, we celebrate the sports achievements of our children through ‘celebration assemblies’. Children are presented with their certificate, medals and head teacher awards as recognition of their hard work and achievements. This is important to us as a school as celebrating achievements boosts confidence, increases motivation of all our children and also develops their self-esteem.

Sports Experts – bringing sport to life with strong role models for our children

Our children have the opportunity to talk to sports experts, such as gymnast Beth Tweddle and Netball England. Prior to meeting these experts, they have the opportunity to research their backgrounds and prepare questions to ask them. By providing our children with this opportunity, they become inspired and understand that they too can achieve anything they put their mind to.

Sports Afternoons – creating purposeful opportunities to apply knowledge and skills learnt to competitions and involving families

Based on parent feedback, at Oxford Grove, within our Autumn term, we hold our annual Sports Afternoons. These popular events are well attended by parents and carers, and allow children to show off a selection of their physical skills in a range of races. As well as helping children to be more competitive, our sports afternoon is also a chance to enjoy an afternoon with their friends and family celebrating their achievements. It has been shown that physical education and sport is important to the development of children and young people. Our Sports afternoon enhances the mental and physical development, as well as social skills of our children.

School Sports Crew – taking the lead on developing Physical Education across school

Our School Sports Crew is made up of dedicated children from across Key Stage 2 who share a genuine passion for sport and a desire to inspire their peers to stay active. At the start of each academic year, pupils must apply for this leadership role at Oxford Grove and are then interviewed by our P.E. Lead.

The Sports Crew meets termly to discuss upcoming competitions, after-school clubs, and opportunities informed by pupil voice. They explore ways to encourage greater participation in physical activity and consider which clubs and activities would most benefit and engage their peers.

Members of the Sports Crew also deliver whole-school assemblies to promote a love of P.E. and to help children understand the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. During lunchtimes, they lead games and support younger pupils in staying active. In addition, they represent the school by taking part in a variety of sporting festivals and competitions.

Swimming opportunities – to enable our pupils to swim 25 metres by the end of Key Stage 2

At Oxford Grove, classes across our school are provided with swimming lessons. Swimming teaches our children about water safety in and around the water; it is an essential life-saving skill. It also helps with the development of physical skills such as hand eye coordination and muscle tone. Swimming keeps our children’s heart and lungs healthy; it Improves strength and flexibility as well as releasing endorphins, the natural feelgood hormones, that lead us to experience a greater sense of happiness and wellbeing. By the end of Key Stage 2, we want all our children to be able to swim 25 metres and to perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. 

The national curriculum 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