Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship
'A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.' - 2014 National Curriculum.
The importance of P.E. in the school curriculum cannot be understated. We want children to enjoy P.E. and to develop long term positive attitudes towards health, fitness and sport.
Class P.E.
Classes are timetabled for two sessions of P.E. a week; one outdoor and the other indoor. Children in the Foundation Stage have one timetabled session of P.E. and also have the opportunity to develop their activity and movement through their continuous outdoor play.
The school is extremely fortunate to have a number of high quality play and activity areas:
school field,
all-weather area,
playground, climbing frames and trim trail,
climbing apparatus at the front of the school,
meadow (currently being developed) and
Foundation play areas.
All these areas give the children extra opportunities for active play and give them space to walk, run, jump, climb and rest. At lunch play times (weather permitting) these areas are open for the children to explore and the school encourages the teachers to make use of these areas at other times.
There is now a strong link between regular, physical activity and improved academic performance, improved mental health, sleep patterns and, lower rates of obesity and heart disease. This Great Ormond Street Hospital link below is a good starting point for investigating this subject. https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/medical-information/general-health-advice/leading-active-lifestyle/exercise-children-and-young-people Gymnastics, dance, games and athletics are taught to every class and the school follows the Val Sabin scheme of work for games and gymnastics lessons. This scheme is supplemented by sessions led by coaches from local organisations (Jersey Cricket Board, Jersey Netball Association, Brazilian Soccer Schools and Jersey Sport). In addition to weekly lessons children in years 4, 5 and 6 children have the opportunity to experience outdoor adventurous activities whilst on residential trips. Lessons are structured as follows:
a warm up, that should be busy and active,
a skill that is taught and then developed through practice,
and finally a game where the children are encouraged to practise the skills they have learnt.
Children play modified, small-sided games, developing the specific skills required. The school also works hard on developing fair play, co-operation and teamwork.
Swimming
During the Summer term, years 4 and 5 are enrolled in a programme of swimming lessons run by the local authority and Jersey Sport. The programme develops children’s skills ensuring children are confident to swim different strokes and can execute personal life saving techniques. Expected outcomes:
swim 25 metres confidently on front and back using recognised strokes,
execute breaststroke correctly and attempt butterfly,
swim 25 metres as 'head up' front crawl,
execute a straddle entry keeping head above water,
retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool,
tread water for 1 minute,
enter and exit the pool safely and
follow instructions from swim coaches relating to safety.
As we all live close to water this is seen as a top priority for the local education authority and significant effort is made to include all children in this programme, so that they can make the most of our beautiful island, it's beaches and it's coastline.
Extra Curricular Activities
A vital component of Grouville's P.E. development is the provision of Extra Curricular Activities (E.C.A.'s). During the school year, children are offered the chance to play football, netball, cross country, cricket, hockey, tag rugby, and athletics as E.C.A.'s, which usually take place after school. These activities lead to opportunities to represent the school. Most of these E.C.A.'s are offered to upper key stage 2, but cross country is open to children in year 2 and above.
If a child practises and works hard then they will have the opportunity to represent the school. Last year (2018-19) Grouville ran two netball teams, five football teams, two hockey teams, two cricket teams an athletics squad and four cross country teams. As well as offering high levels of participation the there are are also pathways for children to excel in their chosen sport and if a child works especially hard they can make it all the way to the highest level. (e.g. Oliver Turner - international triathlete and Lauren Roberts - Welsh hockey goalkeeper). In addition to sports offered in school we have two private football providers operating: