Physical education is an integral part of what we do at HLC as we strongly believe that sport and physical activity play a vital role in the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of children. We pride ourselves in offering a variety of opportunities for all children to participate in physical activity in a safe and supportive environment, in keeping with our school motto “belong, respect, inspire, succeed and enjoy”.

We aim to ensure that throughout their education all pupils at HLC –

• Develop a wide range of competence in physical activities
• Are physically active for sustained periods
• Engaged in competitive sports and activities
• Lead healthy active lifestyles.

The national curriculum states that a high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness throughout their life. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.

Our inclusive physical education curriculum progressively develops children’s knowledge and understanding using a wide range of sports and activities. Every pupil has at least two hours of physical activity each week delivered or overseen by our Primary PE Specialist Teacher. Children from Year 4 to Year 6 have access to an onsite swimming pool where they are taught by qualified swim teachers throughout the year.

Physical education lessons are taught using progressive schemes of work and curriculum drivers. The curriculum areas are carefully mapped out to build on expected progression through the key stages and allow children to develop a greater depth of learning.

The Early Years curriculum focuses on key fundamental movement skills, developing the children’s fine and gross motor skills through imaginative game play and isolated skills. This is then developed further in Key Stage One where children improve cooperation, agility, flexibility and strength through modified gameplay as well as specialist healthy active lifestyles lessons. Key Stage Two expands on this to develop competence in a wide range of sport specific skills such as: athletics, badminton, orienteering and swimming.

In addition to the curriculum, afterschool and lunch time provision are offered. Sports clubs are accessible for all and aim to promote further participation ensuring children are physically active and learn skills for life. Throughout the year clubs range from; net games, dance, kung fu, rounders, swimming, football, cricket, health and fitness and netball. This offer changes each term and with at least one physical activity club every day. In keeping with the national curriculum we aim to promote a healthy level of competition and actively encourage children to access one of our sports teams listed below:

• Years 3 and 4 football
• Year 5 and 6 football
• Key stage 2 cricket
• Year 4, 5 and 6 mixed gender netball

At lunchtime trained children from Y4 run an organised programme called Jumping Jaxx which they deliver and lead activities for younger students on the playground . Students in Year 5 and 6 also have the opportunity to participate in leadership lessons with successful students selected to represent the school as Sports leaders.

Our close links with HLC secondary and three other local primary schools also provides children with the chance to experience other physical activities and enrichment activities such as canoeing, rock climbing, tennis and bowls.

Mrs S. Thomas

Secondary PE Specialist

We also keen to ensure the children develop resilience and experience regular competition through our intra school or interschool competitions. We work closely with our cluster schools to ensure children regularly take part in other activities which is led by a secondary trained PE specialist.

We are now in our six year of our Sports Cluster and it continues to grow from strength to strength.  Since we first started in 2012 we have engaged over a thousand primary school children in sporting activities, ranging from football, archery, golf, trampolining, tag rugby, the list is endless! We are delighted and proud of the fact that 4 out of 5 children in KS2 take part in at least one HLC Sports Cluster activity a year.  This year we are hoping that every KS2 pupil will have the opportunity to participate in a sporting activity they have never tried before.

Secondary school students are always heavily involved with our Sports Cluster. Not only have they completed in numerous events, but over 300 Sports’ Leaders have used their skills to coach primary students with great success.  They frequently organise their own primary clubs, encouraging young students to become involved with sport and to put them on the path to becoming leaders of the future.  We are delighted that over 40% of our Year 11 leavers continue with a sporting activity once they have retired from the HLC Sports Cluster.  We have great pride when hearing of their sporting prowess, knowing that the seeds were planted at HLC.