PE Curriculum

Intent

At Benhurst, our PE curriculum follows the Striver Scheme of work. Physical Education is vital to a child’s physical and mental wellbeing and should support their physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. Our physical education provides children with the means to be courageous and creative learners by creating a safe environment where children can learn and flourish. Teachers are ambitious for our pupils, providing well-planned and inspiring lessons which leads to boundless creativity within the way children show their sporting abilities. Sporting opportunities within and outside the school setting underpin and embed a range of important compassionate values, such as teamwork, fairness and respect. Throughout the years, children will build upon the skills they have learnt from previous year groups. Each year the curriculum will provide a balance of skills progression, sport, individual and competitive activities to cater for the pupil’s individual needs and abilities. Children are encouraged to be resilient through sport and our creative education provides all children with opportunities to enjoy, work on and discover their individual and team abilities.

Implementation

At Benhurst Primary School, our PE curriculum is designed to foster courageous optimism, creativity, and collaboration while promoting a lifelong commitment to health and physical well-being. The National Curriculum for PE aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop competence in a broad range of physical activities
• Engage in sustained periods of physical activity
• Participate in competitive sports and activities
• Lead healthy, active lives

We use the Striver programme, which is fully aligned with the National Curriculum, to support teachers in delivering high-quality PE lessons. Striver enhances staff confidence in subject knowledge and planning, ensuring lessons are well-structured, engaging, and progressive. Each session offers pupils opportunities to practise and refine their skills in diverse ways, allowing them to build upon previous learning and embed knowledge over time. Recapping key skills across year groups ensures that pupils “know more and remember more,” enabling them to make consistent progress.

Our Year 4 pupils participate in weekly swimming lessons throughout the year, with the goal that all students can swim at least 25 meters unassisted by the end of the year. Swimming is an essential life skill, and we believe it supports both physical development and personal confidence.

The PE curriculum is further enriched through our participation in local sports tournaments and after-school clubs, where pupils can apply their skills in competitive settings. These experiences nurture ambition and collaboration, encouraging pupils to challenge themselves and work as part of a team.

By following the guidelines set by the National Curriculum, we offer a wide range of PE activities that not only challenge pupils but also provide opportunities for progression and personal growth, ensuring every child feels valued and empowered to succeed.

Impact

At Benhurst Primary School, the impact of our curriculum is seen through the holistic development of each child, aligning with our core values of Courageous Optimism, Boundless Creativity, and Heartfelt Compassion. Our PE curriculum not only improves the physical wellbeing and fitness of our pupils but also fosters essential life skills such as self-discipline, perseverance, and responsibility.

By creating strong links with our PSHE curriculum, we nurture the ambition in our children to take ownership of their own health and fitness, understanding that success comes through personal effort and accountability. PE lessons promote both physical and mental well-being, teaching pupils the importance of resilience and teamwork. This is central to building their collaborative spirit as well as cultivating creativity and self-expression in physical activities.

In recognising the wide range of physical abilities among our pupils, we ensure that each child is given suitable learning opportunities, with challenges tailored to their individual skills and potential. This differentiation allows every pupil to progress confidently, no matter their starting point.

Pupils at Benhurst make strong progress in PE and demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for physical activities. Their optimism and eagerness to attend after-school clubs and participate in competitive sports reflect the positive impact of our approach. Our curriculum not only equips children with physical skills but also instils the discipline, ambition, and compassion necessary for a healthy, active life, preparing them for success in the next stages of their education and beyond.

Year Group Overview