Physical Education

At Hollickwood, we believe that Physical Education (PE) equips children with vital skills for life and learning. Alongside the obvious health benefits of exercise, PE enables the development of collaboration and co-operation skills and provides a medium for expression and communication.

Our PE curriculum promotes the development of skills and an interest and engagement with physical activity through the components of games, gymnastics, dance and swimming. Pupils learn key skills and are given opportunities to practise and develop them. The broad nature of physical education means that skills are developed in competitive and collaborative contexts, which supports the development of key inter personal skills.

At Hollickwood we adhere to the National Curriculum for PE and welcome opportunities to teach a broad and balanced programme that takes account of abilities, aptitudes and physical, emotional and intellectual development.

As a healthy school that promotes exercise and healthy life habits, PE is a core component of our well-being offer, enabling children to learn how to manage their own physical health and to develop strength, stamina and skills.

Experiences and Opportunities

PE interconnects with other aspects of the curriculum, for example – skills learnt in a dance session can be transferred to a performance conveying an historical event. There are opportunities to perform and to share PE skills, through sports events and activities and through playground games.

The school is a member of the Barnet Partnership for School Sports and competes at football, netball and athletics and is open to engagement in other sports, recently a team competed in a friendly Rounders tournament for example.

Swimming is taught to years 3, 4 and 5 so that children can develop this key life skill.

Inclusion

All pupils will have equal access to the PE curriculum and a high quality, coherent and progressive experience of the subject. Learning ability, physical ability, linguistic ability, gender, ethnicity and/or cultural circumstances will not impede pupils from accessing PE lessons. We aim to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all children. It is important that children are able to engage with PE regardless of their previous experiences or background factors. PE is an area where inclusive practice is essential and needs to be transparent so that children feel comfortable to fully participate in lessons and have a go at activities.

Hollickwood is committed to teaching our children to respect, accept and celebrate the diversity and difference that exists in our society. Our ethos, culture and curriculum reflects these communities and is proactive in promoting belonging and community accountability.

Cognitive rich

The PE curriculum runs alongside our enquiry based approach to learning. Most of the time, PE will not feature as part of the enquiry, although there may be occasions where it is appropriate to adapt a lesson, for example a dance lesson, so that it relates directly to the enquiry the class are following.

A language-rich curriculum is vital if we are to open doors and bridge the gaps for our children’s futures; PE lessons include the development of good listening skills.

PE learning will often link with children’s experiences outside of school. They will be aware of sports and physical activities that family members engage with such as going to the gym or discussing food choices. PE supports children to develop this knowledge.

Mental Health and Well-being

PE is a fundamental support for mental health and well-being. It introduces young people to a range of activities that they can engage with throughout their lives. Many studies have found a clear link between physical activity and mental health and PE supports the development of helpful practices that underpin pupils’ abilities to self-regulate and actively impact their own well-being as they go through life.