The purpose of the Physical Education curriculum is to inspire a life-long love of sport and physical activity. As a department we will promote opportunities for all, through a range of inclusive activities throughout their time here at Gad’s Hill School. Pupils arriving with us at any stage will develop knowledge and understanding of key skills necessary to take part in a variety of sports as well as leading a healthy, active lifestyle.
Lower School – Key Stage 1
Kindergarten PE: Building the Foundations of Physical Literacy
PE in the Kindergarten is all about developing the building blocks of movement in a fun, active, and engaging way. At this age, children are naturally energetic and curious, and PE at Gad’s Hill School harnesses that energy to develop physical literacy—the confidence, competence, and motivation to move effectively.
Lessons focus on fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and catching. These are taught through imaginative play and simple games that promote body awareness, coordination, and control in a supportive, inclusive environment.
More than just physical development, EYFS PE also nurtures important social and emotional skills. Activities encourage children to work together, take turns, listen, and follow instructions—essential foundations for both school and life.
By embedding these movement patterns early, children are better prepared for more structured PE in Key Stage 1 and beyond. The ability to balance, move with control, and respond to others in a game setting sets them up for future success in sports, dance, and gymnastics.
Through play, exploration, and encouragement, our youngest pupils begin their journey as confident, capable movers—ready to grow and thrive in all areas of school life.
Lower School – Key Stage 2
In Junior PE, pupils build on the foundations of physical literacy developed in Kindergarten PE, moving into more structured and sport-focused learning. Lessons introduce a wider range of sports, with pupils developing core techniques such as passing, shooting, dribbling, and striking, alongside sport-specific movement patterns.
As pupils grow in confidence and ability, the focus broadens to include tactical understanding. They begin to explore concepts like positioning, teamwork, attacking and defending, and decision-making in game situations. Lessons are designed to encourage thinking players—those who not only perform skills well but also understand when and how to apply them.
Throughout the Junior phase, but more frequently in the latter part, pupils begin to apply their skills in competitive contexts. Through inter-school fixtures, Mini Youth Games, and ISA competitions, they experience the excitement and challenge of formal competition. These opportunities foster teamwork, resilience, sportsmanship, and pride in representing Gad’s Hill School.
Junior PE balances skill development with enjoyment, ensuring that all pupils, regardless of experience or ability, are engaged, supported and challenged. By the end of this phase, children are not only more technically and tactically able but also prepared for the physical and emotional demands of competitive sport in their senior years.
Upper School – Key Stage 3
In Key Stage 3, Physical Education plays a vital role in developing pupils’ physical competence, confidence and enjoyment of sport. Our One Curriculum approach ensures that all pupils follow a coherent, progressive programme that builds on prior learning while allowing every individual to succeed, regardless of experience or ability.
Throughout Key Stage 3, pupils are taught a broad and balanced range of activities from Core sports to optional sports. Examples of Core sports are:
Football (boys), Netball (girls), Rugby/Touch Rugby (boys), Cricket (boys), Rounders (girls), Athletics (all), Cross-country (all), Karate (girls), Basketball (boys), Health-related fitness (all), Badminton (girls)
Examples of optional sports for KS3 that pupils may choose are:
Football (girls), Skiing (all), Golf (all), Tennis/Padel (all), Badminton (boys)
The sports are carefully selected to develop a wide range of physical skills, tactical understanding and teamwork, while also reflecting the core sports offered within the school’s competitive programme.
Lessons focus on teaching the fundamental skills and rules of each activity, while also challenging pupils to apply and refine techniques through conditioned games, problem-solving tasks and competitive situations. Teachers explicitly build on what pupils already know, ensuring learning is progressive from lesson to lesson and year to year. As pupils move through KS3, there is an increasing emphasis on decision-making, tactics, leadership and performance under pressure.
We place a strong emphasis on inclusive participation. Lessons are planned to cater for all abilities, using adaptive teaching through task design, grouping, equipment and levels of challenge. Pupils are supported to work at an appropriate level, whether they are developing basic coordination and confidence or aiming to perform at a higher competitive standard. Challenge is embedded through extension tasks and leadership opportunities, while targeted support ensures that all pupils can experience success and enjoyment.
KS3 PE lessons also play an important role in identifying and developing sporting talent. School teams are selected directly from curriculum lessons, ensuring that selection is fair, inclusive and based on consistent performance in a learning environment. Pupils are encouraged to demonstrate not only skill, but also attitude, teamwork and resilience
Upper School – Key Stage 4
At Gad’s Hill School, sport in the Upper School is structured to provide all students with the opportunity to engage in competitive and inclusive physical activity. There is a range of Core sports offered at KS4 as well as a selection of optional sports.
Core sports for KS4:
Football (boys), Netball (girls), Rugby/Touch Rugby (boys), Cricket (boys), Rounders (girls), Athletics (all), Cross-country (all), Trampolining (girls), Basketball (boys), Health-related fitness (all), and Badminton (girls).
Examples of optional sports for KS4 that pupils may choose are:
Football (girls), Skiing (all), Golf (all), Tennis/Padel (all). Badminton (boys)
The school regularly organises fixtures in sports such as football, netball, basketball and cricket, allowing pupils to represent Gad’s Hill School at inter-school fixtures and regional and national ISA competitions, as well as Country and District cups. These matches foster teamwork, resilience, and a sense of pride, while helping students to refine their tactical awareness and develop a competitive edge. Athletics is also a key part of the sporting calendar, offering pupils the chance to challenge themselves individually in a range of track and field events.
Beyond competition, the school places strong emphasis on promoting physical health and wellbeing through a diverse and engaging PE curriculum. Students learn how to improve their fitness, build strength, and adopt healthy lifestyles through activities such as gym-based training, badminton, and rock climbing. By offering a variety of sports tailored to different interests and abilities, the programme ensures that all pupils—regardless of experience or confidence—can find activities they enjoy and progress in. This inclusive approach encourages lifelong participation in sport and helps students understand the physical, mental, and social benefits of staying active.
The Sporting Excellence Programme
Our Sporting Excellence Programme is designed to support and develop Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 pupils who demonstrate exceptional commitment, talent, and potential in sport, both within school and in external clubs or performance pathways.
The programme provides dedicated support for student-athletes through a structured approach that enhances physical performance, promotes long-term athletic development, and helps pupils balance sporting commitments alongside their education.
Students selected for the programme take part in three morning sessions each week, focused on:
- Strength and conditioning
- Injury prevention and mobility
- Athletic development
- Physical preparation for performance sport
- Movement quality and resilience training
Sessions are designed to improve overall athletic performance while reducing the risk of injury, ensuring pupils can continue to compete and train at a high level safely and effectively.
A key feature of the programme is the provision of dedicated time outside of the curriculum. This allows pupils to access specialist training and support without compromising their academic studies or curriculum lessons.
The programme creates an environment where talented young athletes can:
- Develop physically and mentally
- Build positive training habits
- Improve confidence and discipline
- Learn professional approaches to preparation and recovery
- Thrive within a supportive sporting culture
We recognise that many of our pupils compete in a variety of sports at club, county, regional, and national level. The Sporting Excellence Programme is designed to complement these commitments and provide additional opportunities for pupils to maximise their potential.
Through high-quality coaching, structured physical development, and personalised support, we aim to help every athlete perform to the very best of their ability both in school sport and beyond
