P.E. Overview

At Burnside Primary School, we believe high-quality Physical Education and sport play a vital role in transforming lives. Our inclusive P.E. curriculum inspires all pupils to enjoy, succeed, and excel in both competitive and non-competitive sport, nurturing a lifelong passion for physical activity, health, and well-being. We provide a safe, supportive environment where every child can build physical confidence, emotional resilience, and essential life skills—helping them to thrive, achieve, and belong.

Our physical education curriculum is deeply rooted in our school motto:

• Be Safe: We prioritise safe practice, physical confidence, and emotional well-being. Children learn to move with control, look out for one another's safety, and take calculated physical risks within a secure environment.

• Be Smart: Pupils develop a strong understanding of how their bodies work, mastering fundamental movement skills—agility, balance, and coordination. They learn simple and complex tactics, evaluate their own performances, and make smart choices that promote long-term physical and mental fitness.

• Be Kind: P.E. builds character and instils core values of teamwork, respect, sportsmanship, and fair play. Children learn to celebrate the success of others, support their peers through physical challenges, and cooperate effectively in team situations.

Evidence-Informed Design

In line with research into effective physical literacy, early mastery of fundamental movement skills (FMS) is critical for lifelong engagement in sport and exercise. To ensure structured progression, our curriculum focuses on building agility, balance, and coordination in early childhood, before transitioning pupils toward complex multi-skill combinations, tactical gameplay, and self-evaluation in Key Stage 2.

Inspiring Role Models

To widen perspectives and foster a sense of belonging, key local and global sporting icons are woven through our curriculum. Each year group explores a diverse sportsperson who has broken down barriers, demonstrating that with determination and effort, anyone can achieve excellence regardless of their background.

National Curriculum Aims & Subject Content

In line with the National Curriculum for Physical Education, our provision at Burnside Primary ensures that all pupils:

• Develop physical competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities.

• Are physically active for sustained periods of time.

• Engage in competitive sports and activities (against self and others).

• Lead healthy, active, and fulfilling lives.

Key Stage 1

Pupils build confidence and master basic movements individually and in groups. They learn to:

• Master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing, and catching, alongside agility, balance, and coordination.

• Participate in team games, applying simple attacking and defending tactics.

• Perform creative dances using simple movement patterns.

Key Stage 2

Pupils apply and combine a broader range of skills, linking actions into complex sequences. They learn to:

• Use running, jumping, throwing, and catching in isolation and combination.

• Play competitive, modified games (e.g., football, netball, cricket, tennis, hockey) using principles of attack and defense.

• Develop flexibility, strength, technique, control, and balance through gymnastics and athletics.

• Perform creative dances using varied movement patterns.

• Take part in outdoor and adventurous activity (OAA) challenges both individually and as part of a team.

• Compare current performances with previous ones to demonstrate personal progress and achieve their personal best.

Swimming and Water Safety

All pupils complete swimming instruction during Key Stage 2 to ensure they can:

• Swim competently, confidently, and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 meters.

• Use a range of strokes effectively (e.g., front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke).

• Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.