PE – Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

At North Petherton, our Physical Education curriculum aims to foster a culture that inspires an active, supportive generation. We encourage children to motivate one another so that every pupil can reach their full potential and develop a lifelong love of physical activity.

We provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where children can thrive in a wide range of physical activities. We recognise that physical education plays a vital role in supporting not only physical development, but also emotional, social, and moral growth. Our curriculum is designed to help pupils succeed and excel in competitive sports and other physically demanding activities. By learning from mistakes and responding to feedback, children build resilience, develop character, and persevere—both independently and as part of a team.

Throughout their time at North Petherton, pupils gain physical confidence and learn to evaluate and celebrate their own progress. They develop skills in communication, collaboration, and healthy competition—with their peers and with themselves—as they strive to improve their personal bests. By placing PE, school sport, and regular physical activity at the heart of school life, we support the health and well-being of our pupils now and as they move forward in life.

Our broader provision complements the PE curriculum by promoting active travel to and from school, encouraging activity during breaks and lunchtimes, and offering inclusive opportunities for all pupils to take part in Sports Day events, extracurricular clubs, and fixtures across Key Stages 1 and 2. Every child has the chance to represent North Petherton in inter-school competitions before moving on to the next stage of their education.

Whether taking part in a team fixture or running with the cross-country team, our goal is for all children to leave North Petherton with a strong sense of achievement, confidence in their abilities, and lasting positive memories of being active and part of a team.

Implementation

At North Petherton, pupils receive two hours of Physical Education each week. These sessions are delivered by the class teacher using the GetSet4PE scheme of learning. In addition, we provide enhanced instruction with the support of Inspired Schools, a high-quality local sports coaching provider, to focus on fundamental movement skills and enrichment activities for gifted and talented pupils.

What does the research suggest?
In 2020, Public Health England published a report with eight key principles for promoting physical activity in schools, encouraging 60 minutes of daily activity (30 minutes during school and 30 minutes outside). North Petherton's response to these principles is as follows:

Principle 1: Deliver multi-component interventions
We promote a whole-school approach to physical activity. Staff are encouraged to wear PE kit on PE days. Pupils change into their PE kit at school to promote self-care and life skills.

Principle 2: Ensure a skilled workforce
A specialist coaching company supports individual teacher CPD throughout the year. The same provider also promotes children's physical literacy through activities such as Forest School and targeted interventions.

Principle 3: Engage student voice
PE pupil voice questionnaires are completed two to three times a year to inform and improve our PE, School Sport, and Physical Activity offer.

Principle 4: Create active environments
We offer specialised playground markings to create zoned areas with targeted activities. Pupils are responsible for the play pod and toy shed, encouraging active playtimes.

Principle 5: Offer choice and variety
PE lessons take place in the hall, on the field, the playground, the swimming pool, and even in the classroom. We provide varied opportunities for pupils to shine across many sporting areas. Sports Day reflects this too, offering both collaborative and individual competitions aligned with our school values.

Principle 6: Embed in curriculum, teaching, and learning
Active teaching is a priority. Lessons include brief inputs with plenty of time to practise and refine skills. We ensure children are active for at least 80% of the lesson, as recommended by the DfE.

Principle 7: Promote active travel
We provide ample scooter and bike racks for pupils. We also participate in initiatives such as The Bridgwater Way’s Active Journey Week and Sustrans’ Annual Big Walk and Wheel event.

Principle 8: Embed monitoring and evaluation
The PE Lead supports staff in delivering high-quality lessons. We regularly reflect on our PE offer and track children’s development each term.

Signposting
Under the PE Curriculum section of our website, we have compiled details of local sports clubs so parents/carers can easily access them.

Impact

We measure the impact of our PE curriculum using the following methods:

End-of-Unit Assessments
Each pupil is assessed against specific unit criteria at the end of every unit.

Pupil Voice
Each year, we ask pupils to share their thoughts on the PE curriculum, active break and lunch times, and after-school club offerings. Their feedback helps us enhance our provision while maintaining high expectations. The PE Lead also meets with pupils to discuss the skills and knowledge gained in recent units, which informs future planning.

Teacher Voice
Regular teacher questionnaires and discussions lead to meaningful changes in our PE approach.

External Reflection Aids
We review our Physical Education, School Sport, and Physical Activity (PESSPA) offer annually. Through the School Games Mark, we assess aspects like physical literacy and club participation.

Parent/Carer Voice
Regular parent/carer voice enable us make improvements to our offer.

Local sports clubs:

We are lucky to have numerous sports clubs in the local area to further develop your child's love for sport. Below are a number of opportunities for your children. If you are aware of other opportunities or would like to add more information, please contact the Office via email (office@npcps.co.uk) or phone (01278 662442). 
 

The following information has been found on their websites or social media so please note that the information may not be up-to-date or may show inaccuracies. We are not responsible for the content the clubs choose to put on their website.
 

Athletics

*There are no athletics/running clubs in Bridgwater for children (that we are aware of). The closest club is in Taunton.

Basketball

Bowling (lawn bowls)

Cricket

Dance and Musical Theatre

Equestrian/Horse Riding

Football

Golf

Hockey

Martial Arts

Netball

Orienteering

Parkour

Rugby

Swimming

Table Tennis

Tennis

Trampolining and Gymnastics