PE and Sport

At Chiddingstone we offer an inclusive, broad, varied and progressive curriculum with a multi – abilities focus. We aim to develop our pupils physically, creatively, socially and emotionally and our expectation is that all pupils understand the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle into adulthood. Our inclusive ethos exists to ensure that all pupils have a chance to shine through competitive sport, sports leadership and other physically demanding activities that encourage lifelong participation.

Chiddingstone School has an excellent recent history with regards to sport. We have enjoyed great success, both at local level and in the wider county. Every year since 2016 Chiddingstone School has held the Gold Sports Mark” award, the highest award available. This recognises both curricular and extra-curricular options available at Chiddingstone.

Our curriculum follows the National Curriculum Programme of Study which focuses not just on specific sporting techniques, but the wider role of sport. The lessons are taught by our designated PE teacher Mrs Emma Golds and PE Coordinator, Mrs Beki Major.

In Key Stage 1, the skills-based curriculum we implement allows children to develop essential skills, which will assist them in accessing all different sports rather than just a single activity. Each term, children develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination. Children engage in competitive (both against self and against others) and co-operative physical activities. 

In Key Stage 2,  the children will begin to apply their skills within specific sports.  The sports the children are taught are:

Term 1 – Football / Netball

Term 2 – Netball / Dance

Term 3 – Gymnastics

Term 4 – Tag Rugby/Hockey/Swimming

Term 5 – Athletics

Term 6 – Cricket/Rounders/Tennis

Each year the children in Years 3-6 complete a week of swimming lessons. This is again taught by experienced coaches in fantastic facilities at Tonbridge School.

We are very proud of the number of sports clubs available on offer to the children, with over 70% of KS2 children taking part in extra-curricular activities. The school would like to thank the parents who regularly give up their term to help run these clubs, without them many of these clubs would not be able to continue. The sports clubs available are on our website under pupil zone; clubs.

To encourage engagement with sport and to promote an active lifestyle, both inside school and out, every class is now taking part our Active30:30 scheme. Through participating in 30 minutes of exercise per day, this scheme seeks to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physcial activity in young people outside of timetabled curriculum PE. 

Some of the clubs are subject to weather conditions and the lack of daylight hours.

 PE and Sport Assessment 

(NEW 2023/24)

Physical Education is not just sport or physical activity. PE should develop a web of fundamental skills beyond just the physical.

For example, high quality physical education has been shown to: contribute to children’s confidence, self-esteem and self-worth; enhance social development by helping children to co-operate and compete and to develop a sense of fairness, justice and respect; reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression; benefit cognitive function and academic achievement; and encourage school attendance and engagement (Harris & Cale, 2018; ICSSPE, 2010).

Therefore, Chiddingstone has recently adopted (March 2021) a new Physical Education strategy that is designed to support children’s physical, cognitive and socio-emotional development. Our curriculum has been written to encompass all these factors following the Association for Physical Education’s Head, Hands and Heart model.

Physical Development (Hand):

Children will develop the confidence and competence to take part in physical activity and sport. They will become physically literate and understand the importance of physical activity in maintaining physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Cognitive Development (Head):

Children will learn to think in different ways and to apply their thinking in a variety of contexts to solve problems. They will develop the ability to make decisions and to evaluate and improve their work.

Socio-Emotional (Heart):

Children will develop social skills that enable them to work collaboratively with others on a range of tasks. In doing so, they will build resilience, manage their own emotions and develop leadership and coaching skills.