Physical Education
Our PE curriculum aims to develop the whole child, not just physical skills, but also confidence, creativity, resilience, and teamwork.
We want every child to enjoy being active and feel successful, regardless of their starting point. We use the Real PE programme, a child-centred approach that helps all children build essential abilities through six core ‘cogs’:
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Personal
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Social
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Cognitive
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Creative
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Physical
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Health & Fitness
This approach builds the fundamental movement skills of agility, balance and coordination, while nurturing positive attitudes, motivation, and wellbeing. It’s fully aligned with the National Curriculum and supports our wider school values.
Children also experience gymnastics, dance, and PE Sport sessions that focus on applying learned skills in sport-specific contexts. Lessons are differentiated to meet each child’s ability and allow everyone to progress at their own pace.
All children receive two PE lessons a week - one indoors and one outdoors - using our well-equipped indoor hall and extensive outdoor facilities. Our large school grounds offer ideal space for a range of field, court, and track sports.
Teachers receive regular professional development from the Create Development team, our in-house PE specialist, and visiting coaches to ensure confident and effective delivery. PE lessons are linked meaningfully to other curriculum areas such as PSHE and Science, and promote whole-school values like resilience, teamwork, and self-challenge.
We provide a wide variety of enrichment opportunities including:
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Clubs like fencing, dodgeball, karate, and acrodance
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School sports teams and local competitions
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Events celebrating physical achievement and participation.
Impact
PE is one of the most talked-about and enjoyed subjects at Rivermead. Children show real enthusiasm and pride in their progress. Staff confidence in delivering high-quality PE has grown significantly through training and support.
Progress is tracked using the 'Real PE assessment wheels', allowing us to see how children are developing not just physical skills but also key personal and social capabilities.
Our PE curriculum equips pupils with a love of movement, a strong foundation in physical literacy, and the confidence to lead healthy, active lives.