The Physical Education (PE) curriculum at Macaulay Primary Academy is designed to inspire and engage all pupils into participating in physical activity. It gives pupils the chance to take ownership of their own health and fitness along with incorporating healthy choices into their lifestyle. Our PE curriculum is supported closely by the local Schools Partnership Trust who provide regular inter school competitions and CPD for staff. Premier Sport’s coaches are used in school to provide some PPA cover, as well as CPD for staff. Premier Sports provide many of the academy’s extracurricular sports clubs, including; archery, multi-skills, gymnastics, football and many more. All activities are offered to children from EYFS to Y6. All children are provided with two hours of high quality PE lesson per week.

PE at Macaulay provides all pupils with the knowledge and skills to become physically confident in a way that supports their own health and fitness. The PE curriculum is planned so knowledge and skills build upon previous learning.

The curriculum focusses on the development of agility, balance and coordination, healthy competition and cooperative leaning through appropriate challenge and support. Pupils develop a knowledge of these fundamental skills and are able to apply them into competitive situations as well as developing teamwork and collaboration.

PE at Macaulay supports pupils’ oracy skills by providing them with effective language experiences through the promotion of specialist and technical vocabulary, questioning, feedback on performance, group work and other aspects of co-operative learning.

In Early Years, pupils develop their physical development skills through daily use of our purpose-built outdoor area and through weekly PE sessions. Outdoors, pupils are encouraged to climb, balance and move in different ways whilst negotiating space. Pupils use a range of equipment (different sized balls, hoops, quoits and beanbags) to help them learn and consolidate new skills. Fine motor growth is an essential part of pupils’ physical development in early years. Pupils engage in daily focused fine motor sessions and activities to strengthen fine motor skills are incorporated into daily provision.

In Key Stage 1, pupils are taught to develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident and have access to a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others. They have opportunities to engage in competitive (both against self and against others) and co-operative physical activities, in a range of increasingly challenging situations.

In Key Stage 2, pupils continue to apply and develop a broader range of skills, learning how to use them in different ways and to link them to make actions and sequences of movement. Through our curriculum, we encourage communication, collaboration and competition. They develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own successes. In Year 3 and 4, all children receive two weeks of swimming tuition every academic year. Children who do not achieve the required standard in swimming in Year 3/4 will be given the opportunity to further their skills in Year 6.