PE, Sport & Physical Activity
At Howden, we place enormous value upon PE, School Sport and Activity (PESSPA) and it underpins our whole curriculum. We value the important difference between the Physical Education curriculum provision, Physical Activity within the school setting, and School Sport. We view Sport as an enrichment opportunity including competitions, to promote inclusive opportunities and social well-being. Physical Activity is used as a tool to support and enrich learning within other curriculum areas, (for example active maths) as well as a crucial requirement to improve children’s health and well-being as stated directly within the Chief Medical Officers Guidelines (e.g. active playtime). Physical Education involves high quality teaching and progressive learning that utilises physical movement and a broad and balanced curriculum to support children’s fundamental movement, physical and whole child development.
The school provides a range of sporting activities both inside and outside the curriculum.
We also regularly offer whole school activities such as ‘Wake Up, Shake Up‘ at the beginning of the school day and ensure there is physical activity throughout the school day to aid concentration and wellbeing.
Activities within PE lessons include:
- Games skills and team games
- Gymnastics, both floor and apparatus work
- Dance
- Outdoor Adventurous Activities
- Swimming for KS2
Sports we offer include:
- Tag Rugby
- Netball
- Football
- Hockey
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Athletics
- Tennis
Outside the curriculum, children are involved in a range of intra and inter-school sporting festivals and competitions throughout the year. Festivals involve whole class activities and competitions involve sending a competitive team.
We regularly invite outside specialists and coaches into school to enable our children to experience new sports and further develop their skills in others. Last year, this included cricket, rugby, football, tennis and taekwondo.
Every year in the summer term we dedicate a week to PESSPA that incorporates school Sports Day and provides an opportunity for children to participate in a range of activities with an emphasis on participation and enjoyment with an element of competition. Last year, we had a climbing wall and hula hoop session. We also tried more unusual sports such as handball, ultimate frisbee and Danish longball.
Association for Physical Education Quality Mark
In December 2017 we were delighted to be awarded the Association for Physical Education (AfPE) Quality Mark for all of our work linked to Physical Education and promoting healthy lifestyles in school. Not only that, we were awarded the PE Quality Mark with Distinction – the highest accolade possible for Physical Education and Sport in school. This nationally recognised award follows a rigorous application and assessment process that involved lots of hard work from staff and pupils including external visits from Physical Education experts to observe practice and gather evidence. To provide an indication of how rigorous the assessment process is to achieve this award, we are one of the only primary schools in the North East of England to have been given the award with distinction!! This award is for ‘demonstrating outstanding commitment to improvement in Physical Education and Sport’ and our school name has been added to the roll of honour on the AfPE website. You can view it on the Association for Physical Education website.
Sainsbury’s School Games
We have been awarded the Platinum Sainsbury’s School Games mark.
Sport Premium Grant
Howden-le-Wear receive a Sports Premium Grant which is used to fund sporting activities and new equipment. We have provided a breakdown of how this grant has been used and the impact to the school in our Premium Allocations section of our website.
