PE
PE at Blandford St Mary CE Primary School 
Curriculum Intent Statement
At Blandford St Mary Primary School, the intent of teaching Physical Education is to give children the tools and understanding required to make a positive impact on their own social, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing. We want all children to experience a wide variety of sports and physical skills, which will engender a lifelong love of physical activity. We aim to teach children to cope with both success and failure in competitive, individual and team-based physical activities, building their perseverance and resilience as well as compassion for others. We intend to promote and provide opportunities for physical activity for a minimum of 60 minutes a day, with 2 hours of PE a week.
Our objectives in the teaching of PE align with the National Curriculum in that we aim to ensure all pupils:
- Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
- Are physically active for sustained periods of time
- Engage in competitive sports and activities
- Lead healthy, active lives
Curriculum Implementation Statement
Our PE lessons are planned using the Get Set 4 PE platform, which aligns with our core values, our whole child approach to PE and the objectives laid out in the National Curriculum. Get Set 4 PE is planned so that progression is built into the scheme, which ensures our children are increasingly challenged as they move up through the school. The curriculum planning in PE is carried out in three phases (long-term, medium-term and short-term). The long-term plan maps out the PE activities covered in each term during the key stage. The PE subject leader works this out in conjunction with teaching colleagues and pupils in each year group. Together we create a broad and balanced curriculum that is exciting for our children. Our medium-term plans give details of each unit of work for each term. These schemes of work provide an overview of the unit, links to other areas of the National Curriculum and assessment criteria for that unit. The short-term lesson plans provide opportunities for children of all abilities to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding in each activity area. Extra-curricular sports clubs are run by both our staff and external sports coaches.
Every half term, children in all year groups compete in an inter-house competition. The scores are collated and we celebrate this as a whole school. This encourages all children to participate in competition, developing their perseverance and resilience skills to increase confidence to join clubs/teams, as well as providing an opportunity for all children to be active and work together towards a mutual goal. During these competitions, teachers nominate a child who showed our school values throughout the competition. This allows us to celebrate children who may not always be celebrated in sport, encouraging wider participation and engagement. Being part of the Blandford Schools Network allows children across the school to participate regularly in competitive sports with local schools.
Curriculum Impact Statement
The impact of our PE curriculum at Blandford St Mary Primary is evident in the physical, social, and emotional development of our students. We observe increased confidence, improved motor skills, and enthusiasm for physical activity among pupils, which is evidence through pupil-voice conferencing. Through participation in competitive sports, students develop teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Swimming proficiency is achieved, contributing to water safety awareness. Regular assessments, recorded on GetSet4PE, and formative feedback inform teaching strategies, ensuring continuous improvement. Beyond academic achievements, the impact extends to a positive attitude towards a healthy lifestyle, fostering habits that will benefit our students throughout their lives. Our PE curriculum reflects our commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals, preparing them for a future where physical well-being is integral to success.