Physical Education

St Leonards CE Academy

Curriculum Intent Statement

Physical Education

Intent

At St Leonards CEP Academy, we recognise the importance of Physical Education and the vital role it plays in promoting long-term healthy lifestyles and supporting physical, mental and social well-being. 

Our PE curriculum aims to provide every child with high-quality opportunities in sport and physical activity — not only as participants, but also as leaders in roles such as coaches, officials and choreographers. We provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment in which all children can flourish across a wide range of physical activities, nurturing their physical, emotional, spiritual, social and moral development. 

We strive to inspire our pupils through fun, engaging and challenging PE lessons that are accessible to all. Our goal is for the children of St Leonard’s Academy to understand and value the lifelong benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle. 

Through our teaching of PE, we seek to embed our core values of being safe, being respectful and being determined. We aim to develop essential life skills such as resilience, teamwork and mutual respect, while offering opportunities for pupils to take part in competitive sport through our extensive extra-curricular programme, as well as through our strong links with local sports clubs, which provide further opportunities for children beyond school. 

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” 
— Michael Jordan 

Implementation 

Our PE curriculum is carefully structured to ensure progression in skills, knowledge and understanding across all year groups. Lessons are planned to build on prior learning and allow children to develop competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities. 

We use a broad and balanced approach to PE, encompassing games, dance, gymnastics, athletics, outdoor adventurous activities and swimming. Pupils are taught to work both individually and collaboratively, developing not only physical skills but also social and emotional awareness. 

Specialist PE coaches support the delivery of lessons to ensure high-quality instruction. Children are given regular opportunities to evaluate and improve their own performance and to lead others through coaching, officiating and choreography. 

Beyond curriculum time, pupils are encouraged to participate in our extensive range of after-school clubs, sports festivals and inter-school competitions. Strong partnerships with local sports organisations and community clubs further enrich our offer, enabling children to extend their sporting experiences beyond the school environment. 

Impact 

By the time pupils leave St Leonards CE Primary Academy, they will: 

• Have developed a secure understanding of how to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. 

• Possess a broad range of physical skills and the confidence to use them in different settings. 

• Demonstrate resilience, determination and respect for others both in sport and in everyday life. 

• Show enjoyment and enthusiasm for physical activity, recognising its value for well-being and mental health. 

• Be inspired to continue participating in sport and physical activity, whether recreationally or competitively, within the community and beyond. 

The impact of our PE curriculum is monitored through lesson observations, pupil voice, assessment of skill progression and participation levels in extra-curricular and competitive events. Through this, we ensure that all children are equipped with the motivation, confidence and physical competence to lead healthy, active lives both now and in the future. Our curriculum fosters a lifelong appreciation for physical activity, encouraging children to embrace challenges, collaborate with peers, and develop resilience through sport and movement.

St Leonards Champions

Successes 2024-2025 so far...

• Summer term 2025 saw year 3 & 4 win the Hastings and Rother Quad Athletics champions 2025!
• St Leonards are now officially the 5^th best golf team in Sussex!
• Town sports platinum league champions 2025!
• Sussex year 5 & 6 Quad Athletics champions 2025!

At St Leonards, we are committed to providing a wide range of opportunities for our pupils to participate in sporting events and competitions. We are proud of all the achievements, hard work and dedication of all our pupils in each and every event, and are always impressed with their enthusiasm. 

Due to such high interest, we thought it would be helpful to share with you both the range of competitions and events available to our pupils, and the selection process for these events.

We have various competitions throughout the year, ranging from more relaxed festivals where pupils can enjoy a fun atmosphere, to the highly competitive Sussex School Games, where our athletes compete against the best in the county.

For the Sussex School Games, the organisers request that we send our strongest athletes. Children must go through several qualification rounds to reach the Sussex Finals. When they get there, they represent not only our school but also the Hastings and Rother area, competing alongside some of the top athletes in Sussex. To reach this level, children must demonstrate resilience, determination, and a high level of skill. Competitions linked to the Sussex School Games include:

• X-Country
• Sports Hall Athletics
• Quad Athletics
• Golf
• Tennis
• Football
• Netball

When selecting children for these events, there are three main factors to consider:

Behaviour and Attitude: Since pupils are representing our school, town, and surrounding areas, it is important that they display positive behaviour both in and out of school. We expect them to uphold our school values and make responsible choices when representing us.

Effort and Engagement in PE Lessons: Pupils who consistently show effort and engagement in PE lessons are more likely to be selected. Their hard work in class helps to assess their potential for competitive events.

Ability to Compete at a High Level: Not every pupil is ready to compete at an elite level. We want to ensure that those selected can perform confidently and without compromising their enjoyment of the sport. It is important that children feel positive about their experience, whether they win or lose.

These are the primary criteria used when making selections. Selection is not solely based on who signs up for after-school clubs. As you are aware, our clubs fill up quickly which means not every pupil is able to attend the club of their choosing. We aim to ensure that all pupils have an opportunity to participate, regardless of whether they have a space at a club or not.

Festivals and Other Competitions

In addition to the Sussex School Games, we participate in local festivals organised by nearby primary schools. These events are less formal and provide opportunities for pupils to compete and represent our school within a more relaxed environment whilst building their confidence and gaining valuable experience. Children who regularly attend after-school clubs are often selected for these festivals, in addition to considering their behaviour and participation within PE lessons.

Achievements and Looking Ahead

Over the years, we have increased the number of competitions we enter, giving more children the privilege of representing our school. Last year, 198 different children represented us at both School Games and festival events. We also celebrated some remarkable achievements, including our first-ever Sussex Champion, Adam Faris, who won the Year 5 Boys’ X-Country event. We were also proud to be Sussex School bronze medallists in Sports Hall Athletics. So far this year, 79 pupils have represented our school, and we are on track to have our best year yet, with the number of children participating in competitions exceeding 200.

We understand that children may feel disappointed if they are not selected for a particular competition. We strive to provide as many opportunities as possible for all children. If you have any questions or would like further information about the selection process, please contact Mr Ray.

Thank you for your continued support and here’s to many more sporting enjoyment and successes this year!