Primary

At first glance, the new curriculum for PE doesn’t look too different; in fact, we initially thought it was just a scaled-down version of the existing document. However, we soon realised that this was actually an exciting opportunity for change and a chance to take an innovative approach to curriculum design.

The purpose and aims of the new curriculum clearly set out the focal points. Key vocabulary should inspire a curriculum design that continues to allow for the holistic approach that makes PE so important. The continuation of the Olympic legacy is evident, as is the focus on competition and the drive for children to achieve their personal best.

The emphasis on health, fitness and physical confidence for life supports our school’s existing philosophy. Although subject content is narrowed, it provides a springboard for skill development and activity mapping. The development of fundamental movement skills is at the heart of the KS1 content. The extension of this into KS2 is evident, along with the much-needed focus on the process of ongoing evaluation and improving performance.

Our starting point was to draw out the key vocabulary and what it means for students. How could we personalise the curriculum so that children achieve their best and develop a lifelong love of being active?

For us, it was essential that evaluating and improving performance continued to be a key development area at KS1. On first inspection, it appears that the emphasis is on games. However, it is vital to develop movement skills through a range of activities. Our role is to educate children and a narrow offer is not the way to do this. A balanced range of activities is crucial at KS2 so that students are engaged through new experiences.

As a team, we have taken the threshold concepts and are building a skills ladder to ensure that children can map their development and be clear about what comes next. The ultimate aim has been to challenge the children; the threshold concepts are a minimum. By introducing bronze, silver and gold challenges, we will create an evidence-based log that the children can build on.

Hannah Vecchione teaches at St John’s RC Primary School and Anita Richardson teaches at Our Lady’s RC Primary School, both in Manchester

Secondary

Overall, I feel very positive about implementing the new KS3 national curriculum. However, assessing without levels continues to be a discussion point. On one hand, there is concern that removing levels will reduce the opportunity to highlight progress. On the other hand, levels can act as a glass ceiling - students often do not look beyond their target level.

During the summer term we took the opportunity to meet regularly and review our current offer. We welcome the succinct and clear KS3 curriculum, ensuring that teachers are at the heart of delivering high-quality PE and sport. As a director of sport, I am particularly pleased that there is a desire for students to “take part in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs”. Our links with the community have been a real strength in our pursuit of excellence.

At coordinators’ meetings, we have been encouraged to consider where are we now and where we want to be. It has been important to highlight the whole-school picture before implementing changes in one department. We have decided to initially keep levels for termly reports. However, any new lesson resource will reinforce “how to close the gap” and not emphasise the levels that pupils are working at.

The new curriculum distinctly states that “schools are not required by law” to teach the example activities identified. Therefore, we are developing a plan solely to fit the needs of our students and our links with local sport provision.

PE and sport is also diversifying, so it is pleasing to see reference being made to developing competence “to excel in a broad range of physical activities”. It is not always possible for students to experience a breadth of activities on the curriculum alone, so that is why an innovative extracurricular programme is key.

Our school promotes a clear message - achievement, excellence, participation and leadership - that goes hand in hand with the new curriculum. We are looking forward to keeping students active and hope that our approach will encourage large numbers of pupils to opt to study PE at KS4.

To quote the curriculum, “a high-quality PE curriculum inspires all students to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities throughout life”.

Simon Russell is director of sport at Swavesey Village College in Cambridgeshire

A look inside the new PE curriculum

General information

• There are references to core knowledge and skills only.
• Overall there is far less prescription.
• It is a baseline curriculum on which to build a personalised school curriculum.
• Greater emphasis is placed on physically demanding activities and sustained physical activity.
• Greater emphasis is placed on fundamental movement skills.
• Schools can choose the range of activities through which children acquire and develop skills.
• The place of swimming has been strengthened. It must be taught at primary age.
• Levels have gone and the attainment target is integral to the programme of study.

• Key stage 1

  • Pupils should develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident, and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others.
  • They should be able to engage in competitive (both against themselves and against others) and cooperative physical activities, in a range of increasingly challenging situations.
  • Pupils should be taught to:
  • master basic movements, including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and coordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities;
  • participate in team games, developing simple tactics for attacking and defending;
  • perform dances using simple movement patterns.

  • Key stage 2

    • Pupils should 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.
    • They should enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other.
    • They should develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports, and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success.

    • Pupils should be taught to:

      • use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination;
      • play competitive games (modified where appropriate) and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending;
      • develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance;
      • perform dances using a range of movement patterns;
      • take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges, individually and within a team;
      • compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best;
      • swim competently and proficiently for at least 25m.

      • Key stage 3

        • Pupils should build on and embed the physical development and skills learned in KS1 and 2, become more competent, confident and expert in their techniques, and apply them across different sports and physical activities.
        • They should understand what makes a performance effective and how to apply these principles to their own and others’ work.
        • They should develop the confidence and interest to get involved in exercise, sports and activities out of school and in later life, and understand and apply the long-term health benefits of physical activity.

        • Pupils should be taught to:

          • use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games;
          • develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports;
          • perform dances using advanced techniques within a range of dance styles and forms;
          • take part in outdooradventurous activities that present intellectual and physical challenges;
          • work in a team, building on trust and developing skills to solve problems, individually or as a group;
          • analyse their performances compared with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best;
          • take part in competitive sports and activities outside school through community links or sports clubs.

          • Supplied by Sue Wilkinson, strategic lead and director of the professional support unit at the Association for Physical Education.

            Resources

            Primary

            1. Run, jump, throw

            Help children to develop the essential skills of indoor athletics.
            
            2. Sport for all

            These detailed plans on sports such as basketball, badminton and football are suitable for teachers with limited experience of PE.
            
            3. Teaming up

            Activity ideas for encouraging pupils to work as a team.
            
            4. Survival essentials

            Task cards to teach and assess survival skills in swimming.
            
            5. On a roll

            Work on gymnastic elements such as rolls and cartwheels.
            
            Secondary

            1. Go the distance

            Plans and flash cards covering the long jump, middle-distance running and the javelin.
            
            2. Hand up

            This guide will encourage students to use a range of tactics during a handball tournament.
            
            3. Street level

            Resources for choreographing and performing street dance.

            4. Crystal days

            Following the template of The Crystal Maze, these teambuilding games include problem-solving and physical challenges.

            5. Positive peers

            Worksheets encouraging students to analyse their performance through self- and peer-assessment.

            For more information, visit www.tesconnect.comnationalcurriculum2014