Welcome to PE at Green Lane Primary Academy

“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before.”

At Green Lane Primary Academy, we believe that Physical Education is an essential part of every child’s development — supporting not just physical health, but also emotional wellbeing, teamwork, resilience and confidence. Our PE curriculum is broad, inclusive and engaging, offering all pupils the chance to discover their strengths, build essential movement skills, and develop a lifelong love of being active. From Early Years to Year 6, every child is encouraged to take part, try their best, and enjoy the benefits of leading a healthy, active lifestyle both in and beyond the school environment.

Why We Love PE

At Green Lane Primary Academy, Physical Education is a valued and vital part of our whole school curriculum. We believe that PE plays an essential role in supporting the health, wellbeing, confidence and development of every child.

Physical Education at Green Lane provides every child with the opportunity to be active, challenged and successful. It brings energy and excitement to the school day, allowing pupils to move freely, develop new skills and work collaboratively in a dynamic and supportive environment. Lessons are designed to be engaging and enjoyable, with children experiencing the satisfaction of progress, the motivation of personal challenge, and the fun of being active with others.

Beyond the lesson itself, PE contributes positively to the wider life of the school. Physical activity helps children to return to the classroom more settled, focused and ready to learn. The social nature of our PE lessons encourages teamwork, co-operation, and communication, which strengthen relationships both within and beyond year groups. It supports emotional wellbeing, helping pupils to build resilience, manage challenge and develop a sense of belonging. PE provides moments of celebration, pride and shared achievement, whether in a relay race, a sports day, or simply learning a new skill. These moments enrich the whole school culture.

Through high-quality PE, we aim to foster lifelong healthy habits, encourage ambition, and inspire every child to find enjoyment in movement, in their own way.

What Learning Looks Like

At Green Lane, our PE curriculum has been carefully designed to ensure all children develop a strong foundation of movement, confidence and physical literacy, while being exposed to a broad and ambitious range of sports and physical activities.

Our curriculum is delivered through a balance of indoor and outdoor PE, with two high-quality lessons per week for every class. These lessons are planned in line with national curriculum expectations and are enriched with themed activities, cultural links, and seasonal opportunities that make learning meaningful and memorable for all pupils.

EYFS and Key Stage 1:

In EYFS and Key Stage 1, the focus is on building fundamental movement skills, including balance, agility, co-ordination, running, jumping, throwing and catching. These are developed through imaginative and purposeful contexts, and our children are encouraged to explore movement creatively, work with others and develop confidence in their physical abilities.

As children move through Year 1 and Year 2, they begin to experience simple team games and develop early tactical understanding through co-operative and competitive play. The curriculum makes strong use of seasonal themes and cross-curricular links to enhance engagement.

Throughout these early stages, children are supported to develop positive attitudes towards physical activity, preparing them for a smooth transition into Key Stage 2 sport.

Key Stage 2:

In Key Stage 2, children build on these foundations and begin to access a wider range of sporting disciplines, including dance, gymnastics, invasion games, striking and fielding, net and wall games, athletics, swimming and outdoor adventurous activities. These are delivered through a clearly sequenced progression that ensures each child develops their skills, understanding, and confidence year on year.

Each term, pupils engage with both an indoor unit and an outdoor sport. Our curriculum also includes alternative sports like tchoukball and orienteering, offering all pupils the chance to discover something new and experience success in different contexts.

Our lessons are designed to be inclusive, engaging and purposeful. Children learn not only how to move well, but also how to apply tactics, evaluate performance, and collaborate effectively with others. Leadership, sportsmanship and resilience are taught explicitly throughout, especially in upper Key Stage 2 where pupils take on personal challenges, officiate games, and lead warm-ups or activities.

Talking, Exploring and Doing

PE at Green Lane is not just about physical activity, it’s also about developing thinking, communication and interpersonal skills. Our lessons are designed to help children not only move well but also think critically, talk confidently, and collaborate effectively.

We place a strong emphasis on encouraging children to reflect on their learning in PE. They are supported to talk about what they have achieved, what they found challenging, and how they can continue to improve. Teachers use a range of strategies including structured questioning, peer discussions and regular feedback to help children articulate their thinking and evaluate their progress.

Our lessons are carefully planned to be inclusive and accessible for all learners, including those with SEND. Children are given opportunities to explore and experiment with different equipment, refine movement patterns, and develop their own strategies, ensuring that everyone can participate, succeed and feel confident in their physical development.

What Makes Us Special

At Green Lane Primary Academy, our Physical Education curriculum extends far beyond the weekly lesson. What makes our provision special is the way we embed physical activity, sport and wellbeing into the wider life of the school through our values, our inclusive approach, and our exceptional range of opportunities for all pupils.

We offer a rich and diverse extracurricular programme, with more than 15 after-school and lunchtime clubs available every term. These range from traditional team sports like football and dodgeball, to creative and inclusive options such as dance, boccia, yoga-inspired activities, and multi-skills. Our clubs are open to all year groups from Reception to Year 6, and many are led by our trusted coaching partners at Middlesbrough Football Club, as well as by our dedicated school staff. These clubs give children the chance to try new things, build friendships, and develop their skills and confidence in a supportive, non-pressured environment.

Our provision reflects a strong commitment to inclusion and accessibility, with clubs tailored to meet the needs of all learners, including those with SEND or those who may be less confident in PE lessons. We also promote pupil leadership and voice, giving children opportunities to help shape activities, support peers, and celebrate participation and success in assemblies and displays.

This wider offer is central to our PE vision: to make physical activity an integral, exciting and accessible part of every child’s experience in the classroom, on the playground, after school, and beyond.

Working With Middlesbrough Football Club (MFC)

We are proud of our long-standing and successful partnership with Middlesbrough Football Club, who work closely with us throughout the year. Their coaches support the delivery of high-quality PE lessons, as well as leading after-school clubs, lunchtime activities and targeted interventions for children who need extra support with physical literacy or confidence.

The benefits of this partnership are far-reaching:

• High-quality coaching from trained sports professionals
• Opportunities for children to observe and learn from role models
• Access to inclusive sporting activities beyond the school day
• Enhanced staff CPD through modelling and team teaching
• Stronger links to the local sports community, inspiring children to get involved in sport outside of school
• Support for attendance initiatives, including reward sessions and match ticket incentives

This partnership helps to ensure that PE at Green Lane is both aspirational and accessible, promoting excellence while ensuring every child has the chance to shine.

How We Know Children Are Succeeding

Success in PE at Green Lane is about personal progress, positive attitudes and full participation. We want all children to leave each lesson feeling proud of their effort, more confident in their ability, and motivated to keep improving.

Success is evident in the way children engage with enthusiasm during lessons and clubs, showing a genuine interest in being active and improving their skills. They are willing to challenge themselves, regardless of their starting point, and demonstrate determination to progress. Pupils support one another positively, showing empathy, encouragement and a strong sense of teamwork. They talk confidently about what they have learned, reflect on their performance, and consider how they can improve further. Many take pride in representing the school in competitions and events, embracing the responsibility with maturity and enjoyment. Even when faced with difficulty or unfamiliar tasks, children show resilience by persevering with effort and maintaining a positive attitude.

Key Documents

• Outdoor PE – Curriculum Overview
• Outdoor PE – Timetable
• Indoor PE – Curriculum Overview
• Indoor PE – Timetable

Ideas For PE At Home

Activity Ideas	Description
Go on a family walk, bike ride or scoot	Explore local parks, woodland trails or just walk to the shops together.
Create a simple home circuit	Use bodyweight exercises like star jumps, jogging on the spot, balancing, or skipping.
Time each other	Doing races, relay games, or obstacle courses in the garden or local green space.
Dance to favourite music	Even 10 minutes of energetic dancing counts makes a difference!
Play traditional games	Such as ‘Simon Says’, ‘What’s the Time Mr Wolf?’ or ‘Musical Statues’.
Get active doing jobs together	Such as vacuuming, gardening, or washing the car.

Local Clubs and Activities to Explore

Local Club / Website	Description
Middlesbrough Sports Village	A large facility with a gym, group fitness classes, a soft play area, and extensive athletics facilities including a velodrome and all-weather pitches.
Tees Valley Gymnastics	Offers recreational and competitive gymnastics for all ages, including preschool and trampoline classes, as well as Ninjas and parties.
RLD Dance Studios	Street dance, performance and creative movement.
Kader FC	Provides opportunities for boys, girls, and mixed teams from under 7 to under 19, with regular “On the ball” sessions for younger children.
Marton Football Club	Runs a popular Soccer Academy for children on Saturday mornings with FA-qualified coaches.
MFC Foundation	Offers various football programs, including “Roary’s Academy” for early starters and programs at the Herlingshaw Centre.
Middlesbrough Mandale Athletics Club	Welcomes athletes from age 8 upwards for track and field events, with a multi-event pathway for younger members.
Middlesbrough Roller Hockey Club	Offers roller hockey for children and adults at the Rainbow Leisure Centre, providing all necessary equipment.
Stockton Hockey Club	Offers hockey for children and adults of all ages. Offers competitive hockey at all levels.
Middlesbrough Amateur Swimming Club	Recruits youth members for its swimming programs, which have been recognized for being safe and child-friendly.
Marton Furness Hockey Club	Has various junior, men’s, women’s, and mixed teams.