Physical Education (PE) inc. Swimming 

Intent

At The Phoenix Federation, we believe that high-quality Physical Education is essential to supporting pupils’ physical development, mental wellbeing and overall health. Our PE curriculum is ambitious for all pupils and is designed to inspire children to develop a lifelong love of physical activity while building the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to lead healthy, active lives.

We aim to provide every pupil with opportunities to succeed and excel in a broad range of physical activities and sports. Through carefully planned, progressive learning experiences, pupils develop fundamental movement skills, teamwork, resilience, leadership, cooperation, and sportsmanship.

Our curriculum promotes physical competence, personal achievement and positive attitudes towards physical activity. We want children to understand the importance of staying active, making healthy choices and recognising the positive impact that exercise has on both physical and mental wellbeing.

PE also supports the development of our Federation values. We encourage pupils to be aspirational in striving to improve, brave in taking on new challenges, compassionate towards teammates and competitors, determined when developing new skills and enlightened through an understanding of healthy lifestyles and personal wellbeing.

We are committed to ensuring that all pupils, regardless of their starting point, are supported and challenged to achieve their potential and develop the confidence to participate fully in sport and physical activity both now and in the future.

Implementation

Physical Education is taught throughout the Federation using the PE Hub Scheme of Learning, which provides a carefully sequenced and progressive curriculum from Early Years through to Year 6.

All pupils receive a minimum of two high-quality PE lessons each week, delivered by class teachers and supported by qualified sports coaches. Lessons are designed to build knowledge, skills and confidence over time, ensuring pupils develop increasing competence across a broad range of physical activities.

The curriculum is organised around three key strands:

Physically Competent, Physically Active

Pupils develop fundamental movement skills, coordination, balance, agility and control, building the foundations for successful participation in a wide range of sports and physical activities.

Tactics and Strategies

Pupils learn how to apply skills within competitive and cooperative situations, developing decision-making, problem-solving, creativity and teamwork. They learn how tactics influence performance and how to adapt strategies within games and sporting contexts.

I Can, I Want To, I Will

Pupils develop confidence, resilience, determination and a positive mindset towards physical activity. They learn to evaluate their own performance, set personal goals and recognise the value of effort, perseverance and self-improvement.

Across the curriculum, pupils experience a broad range of activities, including:

• Dance
• Gymnastics
• Athletics
• Invasion games
• Net games
• Striking and fielding games
• Outdoor and adventurous activities
• Fitness activities

Learning is carefully sequenced so that knowledge and skills build progressively from one year group to the next. For example, children in the Early Years develop fundamental movement skills through manipulating, coordinating and controlling their bodies. These foundations are then built upon throughout Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 as pupils apply their skills within increasingly complex games, sports and competitive situations.

Assessment for learning is embedded throughout lessons. Teachers use observation, questioning, pupil self-assessment, peer assessment and end-of-unit assessments to monitor progress, identify misconceptions and inform future teaching. This ensures pupils secure key knowledge and skills over time and understand how to improve their performance.

Swimming

Swimming is a vital life skill and forms an important part of our PE curriculum. Pupils in Years 3, 4 and 5 attend swimming lessons at Wavelengths Leisure Centre where they are taught to:

• Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres.
• Use a range of recognised strokes, including front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke.
• Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.
• Develop confidence and water safety awareness.

PE Enrichment and Competitive Sport

We enrich our curriculum through a wide range of sporting opportunities that encourage participation, enjoyment, competition and personal achievement.

Pupils regularly take part in inter-school, local and cross-Federation competitions, festivals and sporting events. These include participation in cricket tournaments, basketball competitions, SEND sports festivals, and a range of local sporting events, enabling pupils to apply their skills in competitive and inclusive environments while demonstrating teamwork, resilience, determination, and sportsmanship.

Our strong partnership with Millwall Football Club provides pupils with additional coaching, enrichment activities and regular opportunities to participate in tournaments and sporting festivals throughout the year. These experiences allow pupils to develop their skills alongside children from other schools, build confidence, broaden their horizons and experience the positive benefits of organised sport.

We also host and participate in annual events including Sports Week and Sports Day, held at venues such as Goldsmiths, University of London and other local community facilities. These events celebrate participation, achievement and personal bests whilst promoting healthy competition and strengthening the sense of community across the Federation.

Where possible, pupils are given opportunities to meet and learn from experienced coaches, athletes and sporting role models who inspire them to develop ambition, perseverance and a lifelong commitment to physical activity.

Impact

The impact of our PE curriculum is evident in pupils who are increasingly confident, active and motivated participants in physical activity and sport.

By the time pupils leave The Phoenix Federation, they:

• Demonstrate competence and confidence across a wide range of physical activities.
• Apply skills, tactics and strategies successfully in competitive and cooperative situations.
• Understand the importance of physical activity, exercise and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Show resilience, determination and perseverance when faced with challenges.
• Evaluate their performance and understand how to improve.
• Work effectively as part of a team and demonstrate leadership when appropriate.
• Compete with honesty, respect, fairness and integrity.
• Swim confidently and safely, meeting the expectations of the National Curriculum.
• Understand the positive impact that physical activity has on their physical health, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life.

Pupils benefit from a wealth of competitive and enrichment opportunities that enable them to apply their learning in a variety of contexts. Through participation in tournaments, sporting festivals and partnership events with organisations such as Millwall Football Club, pupils develop confidence, leadership skills, teamwork and resilience. They learn how to compete positively, celebrate success, manage disappointment and demonstrate respect for others, preparing them well for future participation in sport and wider life experiences.

Through participation in both mainstream and SEND sporting competitions, pupils develop confidence, self-belief and a sense of belonging, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience success, represent their school and develop a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.

Assessment information demonstrates that pupils build upon prior learning and develop increasing proficiency across the curriculum. Through regular opportunities to practise, apply and refine their skills, pupils become more confident and capable learners. Most importantly, pupils leave The Phoenix Federation with positive attitudes towards physical activity and an understanding of the importance of maintaining healthy, active lifestyles. They are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to continue participating in sport and physical activity beyond primary school and throughout their lives.

Subject Statement

“At The Phoenix Federation, we believe that every child should experience the joy, challenge and success that Physical Education can bring. Our PE curriculum is designed to build confidence, resilience and teamwork whilst developing the physical skills needed for lifelong participation in sport and physical activity. Through high-quality teaching, competitive sport, partnerships with organisations such as Millwall Community Trust, and enrichment opportunities including cricket, basketball and inter-school tournaments, we ensure every pupil has the opportunity to thrive. We aim to develop healthy, active and confident young people who understand the value of determination, respect, sportsmanship and striving to achieve their personal best.”