St Martin's Catholic Primary School

At St. Martin’s, we understand how important it is for our pupils to leave primary school as healthy, active, and confident children who demonstrate tolerance, respect, and good sportsmanship. Through sport, we aim for our pupils to learn that hard work, dedication, and a never-give-up attitude will benefit them not only in sporting activities, but also throughout their lives—whatever paths they choose to follow.

We also recognise the importance of regular physical activity and understand that a balanced, nutritious diet is essential for leading a healthy lifestyle. With this in mind, we have developed a carefully planned curriculum that ensures our pupils’ sporting journey at St. Martin’s is both rewarding and successful, preparing them for the next stage of their education and beyond.

Adjustments are made to PE lessons to ensure that every child can fully access the curriculum and is not disadvantaged by any Special Educational Needs or Disabilities.

We believe that through learning PE, children develop a deeper understanding of their own dignity and the importance of caring for both their body and mind through physical activity. Furthermore, participation in competition encourages them to respect others while recognising and celebrating individual talents and skills.

We also believe that by taking part in team sports, children learn the value of participation, cooperation, and the vital role each person plays in achieving shared goals.

Through working together in PE, children help to build a sense of community and contribute to the common good.

We follow the Early Years Statutory Framework and the National Curriculum for Physical Education by adopting the PE Hub online platform. This progressive resource ensures that children learn to apply and develop a wide range of skills across various sports. It highlights the importance of leading an active and healthy lifestyle. Throughout the academic year, each class takes part in six different sporting disciplines that promote, develop and refine a range of atheletic skills. Each discipline draws upon on their previous learning and experiences in other sports and year groups and this progresses across EYFS to Year 6. Each class participates in one PE lesson per week which is taught by either one of our incredible KickOff coaches or by our class teachers using the PE Hub online platform. 

Our planning is organised across short, medium, and long-term areas:

Short-term planning focuses on individual lessons that give children opportunities to develop their skills, deepen their knowledge and understanding, and face appropriate challenges for all ability levels. We place a strong emphasis on motor competence as a foundation for success in PE. Each lesson includes clear learning objectives and expectations to guide progress.

Medium-term planning outlines each unit of work and includes PE assessment criteria, key physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills, as well as cross-curricular links and health and safety considerations. For every unit, we use the PE Hub online platform progression of key skills documents and knowledge organisers. These organisers summarise prior learning, highlight key terminology, rules, and skills, and support the development of the second key concept—rules, strategies, and tactics—applied through competition, personal best challenges, and teamwork.

Long-term planning is guided by our knowledge organisers, developed collaboratively with staff and pupils. Wherever possible, we make links with wider topic areas to create meaningful cross-curricular connections and ensure a broad, cohesive learning experience. In addition, children are encouraged to take part in a wide range of extra-curricular activities. 

Children are also invited to take part in competitive sporting events within the local community. This inclusive approach supports not only physical development but also promotes positive mental well-being. Such events help to build teamwork and leadership skills and are always a highlight for the children.

To further promote daily physical activity, we have introduced the “Daily Mile” initiative. This is an initiative that encourages pupils to get active and participate in physical activity every day. This has seen a substantial stride in pupils' general well-being, health, and overall positive attitude.

At St. Martin’s, we inspire children to take part in a wide range of sports through high-quality teaching that is both engaging and enjoyable. Our lessons encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own health and fitness, with many going on to experience the rewards of competitive sport. We aim to equip every child with the skills, confidence, and enthusiasm to enjoy physical activity, helping them to lead happy, healthy lives and carry forward the knowledge and habits developed through PE.