Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) enables pupils to develop the qualities and attributes needed to thrive as healthy, independent and responsible members of society. It prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. PSHE is a way to reduce or remove barriers to learning, such as low self-esteem and unhealthy behaviours, and supports many of the principles of safeguarding.

PSHE and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) also reflect the school’s Core Values by encouraging respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics of: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sex orientation as set in the Equality Act 2010. PSHE also supports the Backpack for Life curriculum to enhance the pupil’s knowledge and understanding of themselves and the ever-changing world around them.

At The Croft we aim to encourage our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school and the wider community. In so doing, we help develop their sense of self-worth. We teach them how society is organised and governed, ensuring that they experience the process of democracy in school through ways such as the School Council and our House system. We teach them about rights, respect and responsibilities as Core Value Ambassadors and as Sports Captains. They learn to appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse multicultural society following Fundamental British Values.

Our Physical Education curriculum is designed to inspire all children to develop a love of physical activity, while nurturing every pupil’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development to prepare them for the dynamic challenges of life beyond The Croft.

In alignment with the National Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2, we focus on building fundamental movement skills and advancing them through a broad and balanced range of activities. Each unit has been carefully selected and sequenced to build on knowledge, understanding and skills that have been previously mastered, giving pupils a chance to explore and develop a skill before applying it to a game, sequence or choreography.

Our Physical Education curriculum also serves as a powerful tool for developing the whole child. By engaging pupils in varied physical activities and experiences, we support pupils to develop their self-regulation skills, helping pupils to understand and manage their emotions in challenging and competitive situations. Pupils have opportunities to develop leadership skills and teamwork, as well as build resilience and set themselves goals. Pupils learn to celebrate both personal and team successes, while also showing empathy, modesty, respect, and an appreciation of others' achievements. By linking physical activities with concepts of mental health and well-being, we aim to equip every pupil with a holistic view of health, fostering lifelong habits which will contribute to a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), pupils focus on Fundamental Movements Skills, Games Activities, Gymnastics, Dance and Ball Skills. In Key Stage 1, pupils focus on Net/Wall Games, Dance, Gymnastics, Target Games and Athletics. Swimming is also delivered to pupils in Key Stage 1. Pupils are taught to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres; use a range of strokes effectively; and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. In Key Stage 2, pupils focus on Tennis, Dance, Gymnastics, Outdoor and Adventurous Activities (OAA) and Athletics.

Our school Sport and Games programme aims to inspire a lifelong love of sport and empower pupils to excel both in sport and in the classroom. While we celebrate the importance of inclusivity, we also strive for excellence, challenging our pupils to push beyond their limits and achieve their personal best. Through a healthy balance of competitive sports, we support pupils to develop a variety of skills, including teamwork, leadership, discipline, along with many of our school Core Values, such as growth mindset and respect.

Our fixture programme is comprehensive, varied and designed to ensure that all pupils are provided opportunities which align with their own levels of confidence, competence and experience. Fixtures are organised with both local maintained and independent schools, and some pupils have the opportunity to compete in regional and national competitions in a variety of sports. We regularly have teams progress to national finals, offering a good level of performance for the more able. Pupils in Prep start a competitive fixture programme in Year 3, which grows year-on-year as they progress through the school. They also participate in two Games afternoons per week. Pupils in Pre-Prep have one afternoon of Games per week and follow a much broader and balanced curriculum.

Alongside our fixtures programme, we are fortunate to have excellent sporting facilities here at The Croft. These include extensive fields and pitches within our 30-acre site, along with floodlit netball courts, a gymnasium, a sports hall, cricket nets, a grass athletics track, and a small teaching swimming pool. Our extracurricular and co-curricular programmes are run by both internal and external staff, which include activities such as Karate, Netball, Dance, Football, Hockey, Rugby, Indoor Rowing, Cross Country, Athletics, Cricket, Tennis, Sports Leaders, Equestrian and many others. This allows pupils to experience a wide variety of sports and activities which are beyond, but complement, the curriculum.

To enhance pupils’ opportunities and provide further enriching experiences, a number of residential trips are run for pupils, including a PGL trip in Year 6 and a bi-annual ski trip for Years 5 and 6 pupils. The children are also able to attend trips organised by the department to watch high-level sports teams and competitions in order to fuel their passion for sport.