This content introduced the Curriculum Planning tool included with our Classic PE Hub platform, which is no longer available to new subscribers. For an overview of the Curriculum Planning tool available to new subscribers, please click here.
Primary PE curriculum mapping can feel like a big task, but it can be both manageable and meaningful with the right tools and approach. A well-structured PE curriculum map ensures pupils experience a broad and balanced range of activities and helps teachers clearly track progression throughout the year. In this blog, we’ll guide you through planning a primary PE curriculum step-by-step, from working with colleagues to making the most of your resources, all while keeping Ofsted expectations in mind. Plus, we’ll show you how The PE Hub can simplify the process with our easy-to-use curriculum mapping tool.
How to Plan a Primary PE Curriculum:
A primary PE curriculum map is a working document that shows how each class’s learning journey progresses throughout an academic year. Anybody should be able to look at it and see what activities a class has done and will be doing for the year. A primary PE map is usually produced as a table, with classes down one side and terms across the top. This format is a straightforward way of presenting the information, showing the flow and progression of a class learning journey in PE. You can click below to download an example curriculum map that can be edited and used for your school.
Click to Download an editable Curriculum Map
How to get started - Liaise with others
If you are the PE Lead writing your primary PE curriculum map, liaising with others, both senior management and your classroom colleagues, is helpful. Classroom teachers will help you understand the previous learning their pupils have undertaken so you can plan for progress. Senior management will know about facility availability and any interruptions in curriculum time, such as trips or school productions. You can also use the school calendar to help schedule the best activity and facility use.
What resources and equipment do you have available?
Every school has access to different resources and equipment. This will impact which activities you can include in your primary PE curriculum map. Knowing beforehand what you have available is crucial to planning any effective curriculum. This includes knowing what planning resources and equipment you have available to you, and if there is anything you need to deliver high-quality PE in your school.
What is being taught in the Wider School Curriculum?
When planning a primary PE curriculum map, can you find any ways to make meaningful cross-curricular links? This might include linking dance to a book being read or linking science work on the circulatory system with health and fitness. Linking what is taught in other curriculum areas helps children gain deeper knowledge of key ideas and concepts.
When Primary PE curriculum mapping, it is also worth considering what is happening outside of school that you can bring into learning. For example, if the Athletics World Cup is happening in May, can you teach an athletics unit simultaneously and draw links? Check out our blog for more guidance on what to include on a primary PE curriculum map.
OFSTED
The Ofsted inspection framework focuses on the curriculum, requiring subject and senior leaders to explain the intent, implementation, and impact of their teaching.
Intent: What should pupils learn, and how does the curriculum progress? For example, if Year 3 covers Badminton in Autumn 1 and Gymnastics in Autumn 2—why? Can you show expected learning outcomes?
Implementation: How are lessons taught? What teaching methods are used across subjects, and how do they support learning? Are there consistent teaching elements across all lessons?
Impact: Less about spreadsheets, more about teachers explaining how they know pupils are progressing. For example, “Most of the class incorporated three or more rolls in a final performance after learning them in isolation.”
Before planning, consider: What is your intent for PE? Who shapes the curriculum? How will it be implemented? And how will teachers confidently demonstrate impact?
Curriculum Planning with The PE Hub:
Subscribing to The PE Hub provides access to our state-of-the-art primary PE curriculum mapping tool. With this tool, you can add unlimited numbers of classes and units per term, as well as have all the PE Hub lesson plans fully integrated to make creating your curriculum plan as simple as possible. Why not sign up today for a free trial to see how our curriculum planning tool can help?