PE and Sport

Thorpe Hesley prides itself on the wide range of sports accessible to the students in both the Infant and Junior buildings. Sports and physical mental well-being are very important and provides pupils with a positive foundation for their academic work. 

Children at Thorpe Hesley are given the opportunity to participate in inter school competitions and tournaments and always represent our school fantastically, showing great sportsmanship, manners and team work. 

PE and sport at Thorpe Hesley exposes children to self discipline, practice and preparation, goal-setting, success and failure and resilience. 

Pupils are also given the opportunity to take part in many different extra-curricular activities and clubs with school staff and external providers.

Overview by Stage

Key Stage 1

The National Curriculum for physical education aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities  are physically active for sustained periods of time
  • engage in competitive sports and activities
  • lead healthy, active lives.

Pupils should develop core movement, become increasingly competent and confident and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and co- ordination, individually and with others. They should be able to engage in competitive (both against self and against others) and co-operative physical activities, in a range of increasingly challenging situations.
Pupils should be taught to:

  • master basic movements such as running, jumping, throwing, catching, as well as developing balance, agility and co-ordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities
  • participate in team games, developing simple tactics for attacking and defending
  • perform dances using simple movement patterns.

Key Stage 2

The National Curriculum for physical education aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
  • are physically active for sustained periods of time
  • engage in competitive sports and activities
  • lead healthy, active lives.

Pupils should continue to implement and develop a broader range of skills, learning how to use them in different ways and to link them to make actions and sequences of movement. They should enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other. They should develop an understanding of how to succeed in different activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success.
Pupils should be taught to:

  • use running, jumping, catching and throwing in isolation and in combination
  • play competitive games, modified where appropriate, such as football, netball, rounders, cricket, hockey, basketball, badminton and tennis, and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending
  • develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance, for example through gymnastics and athletics
  • perform dances using a range of movement patterns
  • take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team
  • compare their performances with previous ones to achieve their personal best.

Swimming and water safety
All schools must provide swimming instruction either in Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2. In particular, pupils should be taught to:

  • swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
  • use a range of strokes effectively such as front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke
  • perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

Useful Links and Resources

Here are our policies related to science teaching and some useful websites to help children learn more about science.

Lunch Time and After School Clubs

Mrs Bailey’s football

Mrs Bailey holds various football clubs throughout the week during lunchtimes. Children have the opportunity to participate in an organised game to develop their skills to ultimately enjoy playing the sport, socially with friends. Tuesday lunchtimes are dedicated to Y3 girls, Wednesday lunch times are for Y4 girls and are supported by Miss Lambert, Thursday Y3/4 boys and Friday Y5/6 boys. The uptake of these sessions are amazing and the children (and Mrs Bailey) look forward to them each week.

Miss Moran’s Y1/2 football

On a Wednesday lunchtime, Miss Moran holds a Y1/2 football club for girls and boys in these year groups to enjoy playing an organised game. It provides an opportunity for skill development and encourages children to be active during lunchtimes.

Mrs Morgan’s dance club

Mrs Morgan has been holding a dance club in KS2 during Wednesday lunchtimes. During the Autumn term, this group of children have been learning a Christmas themed dance which they will perform at our ‘carols around the tree’ event in December.

During the Spring term, Mrs Morgan set up another KS2 dance group to work towards a performance which will be displayed in the Summer term.

Mr Binney’s relaxation club

In the Autumn term, Mr Binney has held a relaxation club in the junior hall during lunchtimes. This session has provided children the opportunity to take care of their mental health by taking part in relaxing activities such as mindfulness colouring, breathing techniques and yoga.

Mrs Payne’s basketball club

Mrs Payne has been running a basketball club on Monday lunchtimes for children in Y4. During the sessions, children have played games in the style of a mini tournament to improve their ability to integrate their skills into game situations. Some children went on the represent the school in a y4 basketball competition in the Spring term.

Mrs Caborn’s Salsa Dancing

Salsa dance class will commence in the Summer term… watch this space!

Sports Competitions 2023-24

Half time cup

On 23rd September 2023, our Y5/6 football team took part in the Primary Stars Cup held at RUFCs New York Stadium.  They successfully made it to the next round showing great team work and sportsmanship! Well done everyone!

Round 2

On 28th January, we took part in round 2 of the tournament at Parkgate Astro. This saw us through the the Semi-finals which will be held in March. Well done to our Y5/6 team who once again showed determination and team work.

Cross Country

On 22nd September 2023, children took part in our first sporting event of the year – cross country held at Abbey School. The children came back with medals, a trophy for resilience and determination and most importantly big smiles! Well done to all who took part.

Utilia cup

On 3rd November 2023, we had a fabulous morning of football with our Y5/6 team. Such great team spirit and sportsmanship on show. We were unlucky to lose on penalties in the quarter-finals but they boys did us proud as always.

Girls Y5/6 Football

Another football tournament! This time for our Y5/6 girls who took part in the Primary Girls cup, held by RUFC. We were so proud of the girls who competed well with high spirits and determination. They were unlucky to miss out on the knock out stages but that certainly didn’t dampen their enthusiasm! Well done!

Y5/6 Girls Dodgeball

Well done to our Y5/6 girls who took part in the Rotherham School Games ‘develop and play’ Dodgeball tournament in December 2023. The girls showed such great team spirit and played some fantastic competitive games were played.

Year 4 Basketball Tournament

In February, some of our Y4 boys and girls were invited to a School Games basketball tournament held at TRC, Rotherham. After attending a series of training sessions with Mrs Payne, they competed against other schools in a mini tournament. They came 3rd in their group, narrowly missing out of the quarter finals. Well done on a super effort Y4.

Y5/6 St Bedes tournament

Well done to our y5/6 Football Team for competing so well at the RUFC tournament at St Bedes in March. Parents and families were lucky enough to watch which was a lovely treat!

RUFC Community Shield

In March, a selection of Y56/ child were chosen to represent school in the RUFC community shield tournament at Parkgate Astro. They played brilliantly showing enthusiasm and great team spirit. They managed 3rd place position and did our school proud!

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