At Northern House Academy our P.E curriculum is built around and underpinned by our School values. As such our approach is designed around understanding the needs of each individual child, is unapologetic in its high expectation, knowing that our children are not defined by their needs but instead viewed with the positivity they need in order to be nurtured both emotionally and academically, it is consistent in order to enable a safe environment where our pupils are empowered to take risks and experience success and it must be a P.E curriculum that promotes the simple pleasure of happiness.
We incorporate our values, principles and aims into our adaptable physical education programme which meets the needs of each child within our SEMH learning environment. Our P.E package is designed to be regularly changing in response to the environment we teach in adapting to the needs of our children. We have designed our PE curriculum to be a restorative curriculum which supports our pupils with their understanding of physical activity and how to lead healthy and active lives, but also builds their confidence and social and emotional development. Our P.E curriculum is closely matched to the national curriculum in order to develop competence in a broad range of physical activities, to be physically active for sustained periods of time, engage in competitive sports and to lead healthy and active lives.
The national curriculum for PE aims to ensure that 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
P.E lessons are planned and delivered by our sports coach. The curriculum is further enhanced by participation in numerous sporting tournaments with other schools in the area and via a very popular sports option as part of our weekly star time options at St Edwards school using their extensive sporting facilities. Our sports coach also facilitates an active lunch option in the hall every day. Here sports activities are available to students, including table tennis, basketball and volleyball. Classes within our Louvre Gallery also participate in the ‘daily mile’ each day, to further increase the activity and perseverance of our students.
Key Stage 1
Pupils 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 are able to engage in competitive (both against self and against others) and co-operative physical activities, in a range of increasingly challenging situations. Pupils are taught to:
- master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and co-ordination, 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 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 enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other. They develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success.
Pupils are taught to:
- use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination
- play competitive games, modified where appropriate [for example, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, netball, rounders and tennis], and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending
- develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance [for example, through athletics and gymnastics]
- perform dances using a range of movement patterns
- take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team
- compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best.
Swimming
Pupils are selected to take part in weekly swimming sessions each term at Oxford Brookes University. Students are selected based on need and previous swimming experience, with those who have least experience being given priority.