ST THOMAS
CE (VC) PRIMARY SCHOOL
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PE & Sports Premium
What is the PE and Sport Premium?
The PE and Sport Premium is part of a series of programmes led by the Department of Education to improve healthy lifestyles among pupils and tackle childhood obesity.
This funding - provided jointly by the Departments for Education, Health and Culture, Media and Sport - is allocated to primary school headteachers. The funding is ring-fenced and therefore can only be spent on provision of PE and sport in schools.
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Purpose of funding
Schools must spend the additional funding on improving their provision of PE and sport, but they will have the freedom to choose how they do this.
Vision
All pupils leaving primary school physically literate and with the knowledge, skills and motivation necessary to equip them for a healthy lifestyle and lifelong participation in physical activity and sport.
Objective
To achieve self-sustaining improvement in the quality of PE and sport in primary schools.
We would expect indicators of such improvement to include:
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The engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity – kick-starting healthy active lifestyles
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The profile of PE and sport being raised across the school as a tool for whole school improvement
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Increased confidence, knowledge and skills of all staff in teaching PE and sport
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Broader experience of a range of sports and activities offered to all pupils
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Increased participation in competitive sport
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Swimming
Pupils access swimming lessons in Year 5
Cave, River & Mountain Challenge
Our Three Peaks Challenge was relaunched a few years ago, as the Cave, River & Mountain Challenge: -
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Year 4 - visit Ingleborough Cave and the Cave Rescue Organisation in Clapham
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Year 5 - walk along the River Wharfe from Burnsall to Linton Falls
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Year 6 - climb Whernside
Each expedition is led by our own fully qualified Mountain Leader on Saturdays through the year assisted by members of school staff. The trips are voluntary and children participate because they choose to. This successful challenge continued in 2023/24 and we expect it to be equally successful this next academic year (2024/25)
The St Thomas Three Peaks Challenge started in 2015 and gave children in Years 4 to 6 the opportunity to climb the Yorkshire Three Peaks: Pen-y-Ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside. Over the years, almost 200 different children completed these challenges. Our last expedition was in July - just before the summer holidays. The Cave, River & Mountain Challenge, which is designed to give the children a more rounded experience of the great outdoors, will resume in the Autumn term 2024.
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Rugby
The St Thomas Rugby Academy is an initiative set up to introduce the concept of Rugby. As in years gone by, Rugby was a sport taught at secondary school and even now is still only taught at certain high schools. In addition to this, most schools will focus solely on teaching the specifics of Rugby Union or Rugby League.
At St Thomas, we believe that it’s the fundamentals from both codes which are important, giving all pupils the opportunity at KS2 to participate in a sport which promotes a number of skills in addition to teamwork, fitness and fun. This area of the curriculum is considered to be an 'invasion game', which is a key part of learning to work within a team. Mr Sykes is qualified to teach Rugby at the highest level and his intention is to enable our pupils to get a taste for rugby, with an enjoyable experience they’ll never forget. With lots of freedom, no restrictions or complications, the St Thomas Rugby Academy is a great (and safe) place to introduce Rugby - It's where Ex-Giants and England Rugby League star, Jermaine McGilvary, went to school too!
"It’s great fun and you learn new things every week, I really enjoy myself - it’s 10/10."
Eva, Y6.
“ I think it’s a really good club, we gain experience and it brings people together."
Callum, Y5.
"It is awesome and cool. I really like Rugby.”
Kiera, Y4.
“It was fun and I enjoyed it. I liked playing against other teams in the St Thomas Rugby festival. Learning to play Rugby means I can play against my Dad.”
Ellis, Y3.
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