PE

Physical Education (PE) at Merstham Primary School

At Merstham Primary School, our vision statement — “Together we fly” — underpins everything we do. This vision reflects our commitment to working collaboratively to achieve success, supporting every child to reach their full potential. It is closely linked to our core values of Community, Aiming High, Learning to Learn, and Wellbeing, which are evident throughout our PE curriculum.

Through PE, pupils experience what it means to be part of a community, strive for personal excellence, develop resilience in their learning, and understand the importance of physical and mental wellbeing.

Our Intent

The intent of our PE curriculum is to ensure that all pupils leave our school with a lifelong desire to be active. To support this, pupils develop the physical competence, confidence, and motivation needed to participate in a wide range of physical activities.

We aim to provide opportunities for pupils to:

• Be creative, competitive, and collaborative
• Work together as a community, supporting one another to succeed
• Aim high and strive to improve their personal performance
• Learn how to learn, developing resilience and independence
• Prioritise their wellbeing through physical activity

Our Approach

Our approach to PE and physical activity is designed to provide a broad and balanced experience for all pupils. It is implemented through:

• A structured curriculum
• A range of after-school clubs
• Participation in competitions, festivals, and personal best challenges
• Sport-specific enrichment days
• Leadership opportunities for pupils

The school uses the PE Planning curriculum to support the delivery of high-quality PE lessons across all year groups. To ensure consistency and confidence in teaching, an experienced PE teacher has provided training to all staff, enhancing subject knowledge and pedagogy.

Clubs and Enrichment

We offer a wide range of free and inclusive clubs throughout the year, ensuring that all pupils have the opportunity to take part in physical activity beyond the curriculum. These clubs promote participation, enjoyment, and skill development, helping pupils to feel part of a supportive and active community.

Curriculum Overview

All classes receive 2 hours of PE each week

Reception and Key Stage 1

The focus is on providing a broad and balanced curriculum, enabling children to:

• Develop fundamental movement skills
• Build a strong foundation for applying skills in different contexts

Key Stage 2

Pupils access a wide range of activities, including:

• Invasion games
• Net and wall games
• Striking and fielding games​

Additional opportunities include:

Year 5 Swimming Programme

Year 6 Outdoor Adventurous Activities (OAA) Residential

Curriculum Aims

Across all year groups, our PE curriculum supports pupils in developing:

Physical literacy

Emotional wellbeing

Thinking and problem-solving skills

It is aligned with the National Curriculum and focuses on:

Agility, balance, and coordination

Healthy competition

Cooperative learning

Quality of Teaching

A dedicated PE specialist supports teachers to ensure the delivery of a high-quality, inclusive PE curriculum that meets the needs of all learners. Ongoing professional development, including whole-staff training delivered by an experienced PE practitioner, ensures teaching remains consistent and effective across the school.