Physical Education

Intent

At The James Oglethorpe Primary School, we believe that Physical Education is far more than just sport – it’s about building healthy habits, confidence, and character for life. Our PE curriculum aims to inspire every pupil to lead an active, healthy, and balanced lifestyle. We want children to discover the joy of movement, develop physical competence and confidence, and foster a positive attitude towards physical activity and wellbeing.

Through PE, pupils learn the values of teamwork, respect, perseverance, and fair play — qualities that help them thrive both on and off the field. Above all, we want every child to enjoy being active and to recognise that sport is for everyone.

Implementation

Our carefully designed PE curriculum offers a broad and inclusive experience from the Early Years through to Year 6. Each unit builds progressively on previous learning, ensuring pupils continually develop their skills, understanding, and confidence across a wide range of activities — including invasion games, gymnastics, dance, athletics, and outdoor and adventurous challenges.

All children receive two PE lessons per week: one delivered by their class teacher and one by our specialist PE teacher, Miss Page. This combination ensures a consistent approach to skill development while allowing children to benefit from expert coaching and specialist knowledge.

We are also fortunate to have Mr Lendon, our dedicated sports coach, who runs extracurricular clubs designed to develop pupils’ cricket and athletics skills — supporting both individual progress and our success in competitive sport.

To ensure every child can achieve their best, we provide PE intervention sessions that focus on developing key physical skills, coordination, and confidence. In addition, team training sessions are built into our timetable, giving pupils the opportunity to refine tactics, improve teamwork, and deepen their understanding of game strategy — all of which contribute to our continued success in sporting competitions.

Lessons are active, engaging, and inclusive, tailored to meet the needs of every child. We place strong emphasis on both physical and emotional development — helping pupils understand how exercise benefits the body, boosts wellbeing, and supports mental health.

Intra- and inter-school competitions give pupils the chance to apply their skills, celebrate success, and represent the school with pride. Through these opportunities, children develop sportsmanship, determination, and a sense of belonging to our school community.

Impact

By the end of their time at James Oglethorpe, pupils leave with the confidence, skills, and motivation to continue leading active lives. They have a solid foundation in fundamental movement, a deep understanding of healthy living, and the ability to work effectively with others.

Our approach ensures that children don’t just learn how to move — they learn why being active matters. From improved fitness and coordination to enhanced communication, resilience, and self-belief, the impact of PE at our school is long-lasting.

We are proud to see our pupils develop into enthusiastic, confident individuals who value health, wellbeing, and sport — carrying these lessons with them throughout their lives.

Sporting Success and Achievements

Sport truly runs through the veins of James Oglethorpe. We are immensely proud of our pupils’ achievements and the strong sporting reputation we continue to build within the local community and beyond.

In the 2024/25 academic year, our Year 3/4 Cricket Team triumphed in the Rapid Fire Competition, while our Year 5/6 Girls’ Cricket Team won the Havering Sports Collective competition and went on to place third across all primary schools in Essex. As a school, we also celebrated a fantastic team effort by winning the Orienteering Little League in Havering, a true testament to our pupils’ teamwork and determination.

We are known not just for taking part, but for competing with pride, skill, and spirit in the Havering Sports Collective’s events — and our results speak for themselves.

Building on this success, the 2025/26 year has already started strongly. Our Year 5 Boys’ Cross Country Team finished third in all of Havering, with one outstanding individual runner finishing first overall. In addition, several pupils have been selected to represent the district in football and cross country — an incredible honour that reflects their talent and dedication.

At The James Oglethorpe Primary School, sport is at the heart of school life. Our pupils’ achievements, both individually and collectively, showcase not only their athletic ability but also their perseverance, teamwork, and passion — qualities that make us proud every single day.