Physical Education

Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity (PESSPA)

At Alston Primary School we offer a high-quality physical curriculum that develops key characteristics that will help children take care of their physical health and mental wellbeing. We intend for our children to discover and develop freedom of play; to be physically active and to have a sense of physical identity. We want children to apply and show excellence in skills such as listening, observing, questioning and reflection. We aim to develop attitudes, positive dispositions, physical skilfulness, decision making and good physical condition.

At Alston, as part of Leigh Trust, we offer a breadth of activity, utilising the ‘Complete PE’ design, planning and assessment. Our expectation of learning begins at EYFS all the way up to KS2, with the intention that children can tackle tasks that increase in complexity, technical difficulty, and marks of progress through the PE curriculum.

Our wider physical curriculum enables all children in our school to be physically active as often as possible, every day. The physical activity will be great enough intensity and for long enough to make a significant impact to our children’s physical growth, health and wellbeing. All children have the opportunity to become part of a club/competition as a participant, for leadership, organisation and volunteering.

To find out more about physical education, school sport and physical activity, at Alston Primary School, please see the documents below:

Physical challenges for kids - Youth Sport Trust

afPE

The Association for Physical Education (afPE) is the PE Subject Association in the UK. We are committed to being the representative agency of choice for people and organisations delivering or supporting the delivery of physical education, school sport and physical activity in educational contexts and in the wider community.
Our work includes developing physical education related policy and related statements, responding to consultations, providing resources, outstanding professional learning across the sector, meeting with representatives from partner organisations and political representatives, and promoting the subject in a variety of forums.
Our purpose is to promote and maintain high standards and safe practice in all aspects and at all levels of physical education, school sport and physical activity, influencing developments at national and local levels that will impact on pupils’ physical health and emotional well-being.

WOW Travel Tracker

The WOW Travel Tracker is used by schools participating in WOW, the year-round walk to school challenge, to record daily pupil journeys and earn their monthly WOW badges.
Each class is provided with an engaging dashboard to see which classes are leading the way in active travel. Pupils log daily journeys to school on the system. The WOW Travel Tracker also confirms which pupils have walked enough to earn a badge each month and these key statistics can be used to earn your school a Modeshift STARS award.

Pathway To Podium

What is Pathway To Podium?

The Pathway to Podium initiative has been designed to recognise and encourage schools' contribution to Physical Education, school sport and physical activity (PESSPA).
It celebrates the positive work that schools are delivering in terms of PESSPA and supports schools to improve their offer for the benefit of children and young people.
Pathway to Podium is available for all schools across Birmingham and is designed to use the 2022 Commonwealth Games as a tool to increase the opportunities for young people to be active for a minimum of 60 minutes per day.

How does Pathway To Podium work?

Pathway to Podium will provide a set of criteria across 5 key areas of PROFILE, PARTICIPATION, PERFORMANCE, PEOPLE and PLACES. Schools will complete an initial self-assessment on each of the 5 key areas and receive a rating (Bronze, Silver or Gold) based on their responses. Schools will need to evidence key strategies they have implemented, the impact this has had on the outcome and progress to young people and their plans for future development.
Schools will be supported to develop an action plan that enhances their school offer in PESSPA and improves the outcomes for young people. Schools will be encouraged to re-assess on a yearly basis to evidence improvements and prioritise further developments.

Community Sport Links

Small Heath Community Centre

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/smallheathlc

Sports centre with a fitness gym, swimming pool and squash courts.

Stechford Leisure Centre

https://www.birminghamleisure.com/stechford-leisure-centre

Leisure centre with a fitness gym, swimming pool, group fitness classes and table tennis.

Nechells Well-Being Centre

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/directory_record/7793/nechells_wellbeing_centre

Leisure centre with indoor hall facility and gym

Pat Benson Boxing Academy

https://www.pbba.co.uk/

Small Heath Boxing Club became The Pat Benson Boxing Academy in 2011.

Since then, the Academy has become a charitable organisation, building on the club’s strong history of social value and community cohesion.

Today, not only does the club continue to attract the country’s brightest boxing talents to its state-of-the-art facilities, it’s a hugely valuable community sports foundation, working with young people to build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem through a variety of sports programmes.

Dream Chasers Youth Club

https://dreamchaseryouthclub.org.uk/

Dream Chasers Youth Club, a voluntary and non-profit organisation, aims to provide a place where young people can come together to socialise in a friendly, safe and accessible environment. What we do is in our name: imparting the young people to chase their dreams, integrate into a pressured society, and establish themselves as respectable driven members of the community.

Birmingham Youth Sports Academy

https://bysa.co.uk/

Birmingham Youth Sports Academy (BYSA) was established in 2002 as a voluntary organisation and has received funding from a number of organisations in order to offer football coaching to young people aged 6-18.

We currently run two coaching sessions for both boys and Girls. Our boys coaching session is at Small Heath Leisure Centre every Saturday morning from 10:30am – 12:30pm and costs just £2.

Our girls coaching sessions are completely free. They’re held at Saltley Leisure Centre from 11:00am – 12:00pm every Sunday.

PE Kit (wear to school on the class PE day)


Plain White Polo T-shirt	Plain Black Jogging Bottoms	Plain Black Zip-Up Hoodie

Plain Black pumps	Plain Fitted sports headscarf (no pins)

Healthy Active lifestyles

At Alston Primary School, we believe in fostering a healthy lifestyle that encompasses both physical vitality and mental well-being. Our ethos revolves around cultivating habits that support a balanced, wholesome life for our pupils, laying the foundation for their future success and happiness.

Nourishing the body with wholesome meals is a cornerstone of our approach. Our school provides healthy, balanced lunches crafted to fuel growing bodies and minds. For all children, we emphasise the importance of nutritious snacks, ensuring they have access to foods that support their development and energy levels throughout the day. We integrate essential knowledge across the curriculum, in subjects such as: science, Religious Education (RE), and Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE). Pupils learn about the human body, healthy habits, mental health awareness, and emotional resilience, equipping them with crucial information to make informed choices. By nurturing both physical and mental health, we strive to create an environment where our pupils thrive. We understand the significance of a healthy mind and body in achieving academic success and overall happiness. Our commitment to this ethos extends beyond the classroom, aiming to empower pupils with the tools and understanding to lead fulfilling, healthy lives beyond their school years.

Physical activity is also fundamental to our curriculum. Through engaging Physical Education (PE) lessons, our students not only learn various sports and exercises but also develop essential teamwork and leadership skills. We encourage active participation in sports, dance, and outdoor activities to instil a love of movement and exercise. At our school, we're not just shaping pupils; we're nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped with the knowledge, habits, and resilience to embrace a healthy lifestyle and navigate life's challenges confidently.