Physical Education

Our aim at Dunalley Primary School is to inspire all children to develop a love of physical activity and sport.  This ambition is nurtured through our provision for physical activity, in both the PE curriculum and wider opportunities around extra-curricular delivery and Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL).  We aspire to develop confidence and resilience in children, enabling them to strive for their personal best. On leaving primary school, these children will have the necessary skills to be successful in their future sporting challenges and active lifestyles, in secondary school and beyond.  We also recognise that being active and making healthy choices contributes to both physical and mental health.


Our planned programme of PE ensures that during their time at Dunalley, children experience the full breadth of physical education encounters. In EYFS, this begins with the development of fundamental movement skills and continues across Key Stage 1 where the children are introduced to gymnastics, dance and games.  At Key Stage 2, the children continue with gymnastics and dance.  Net and invasion games, and outdoor and adventurous activities are also introduced. We also include a wider range of sports activities such as golf, fitness and yoga, to encourage all to participate.  In Year 4, our children undertake an intensive course of swimming and water safety. This takes at the local leisure centre, a short walking distance from our school.  All children are taught to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres. Children who do not achieve the National Curriculum requirement are invited to additional lessons arranged by the school. Our children also have weekly opportunities for further physical activity, using our ‘mile track’.

Our range of School Sports Clubs are open to all children. These clubs operate before and after school and are organised by school staff and specialist providers.

During the year, our children participate in a wide variety of sports festivals and competitions, as part of the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury School Sports Partnership. These include, cross country, football, tag rugby, hockey tennis, athletics,  as well as less traditional activities such as the dance festival, archery and mountain biking. Our athletics team – and in particular, our relay squads - have a reputation for performing exceptionally well in the Cheltenham & District Cotswold Shield Schools Competition. Furthermore, all children across EYFS, Key Stages 1 and 2 have the opportunity each year to participate in a festival or competition with other local schools.  

The National Curriculum provides an outline of core knowledge, skills and understanding around which teachers can develop exciting and stimulating units of work and lessons. Our staff have spent considerable time developing their long-term curriculum maps for their year groups to ensure that the full requirements of the National Curriculum are met.

These subject specific documents outline the content of the curriculum for each year group, across the academic year and provide an excellent insight into what each year group will be teaching.
To access our curriculum progression maps please click on the following links:

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NEW - Dunalley Diddies

07 Mar 2024

Open to parents/carers of babies 0-1yrs old, on Wednesday afternoons, 1.45pm-3pm. For more information pop along and speak to Hannah Street in...

Easter Holiday Camp

04 Mar 2024

With the Easter break less than 4 weeks away, with our award-winning multi-activity camps running throughout the Easter holidays!

Year 6 Trip

01 Mar 2024

Our Year 6 children enjoyed an adventurous trip to Swindon Steam Museum on Friday.
Their outfits for the World War 11 experience were just fabulous.

OPEN DAY for 2024 Starters

20 Nov 2023

Another OPEN DAY for September 2024 Starters will take place on January 9th 2024 at 9.30am to 10.30am - please just come along!
Please email...

OPAL Bingo - Winners

15 Nov 2023

Coming Soon !
Another OPAL Bingo opportunity

OPAL Platinum Award

18 Apr 2023

Awarded Platinum
This award means that Dunalley primary has some of the best lunchtime play opportunities in the country for all their pupils.

Sports Day

24 Mar 2023

Sports Day 
KS2 - 11th July 
KS1 - 13th July

OPAL Bingo

31 Jan 2023

The competition has started, which class can conmplete their OPAL Bingo card?

Parent Walkthrough - Read, Write Inc KS1

13 Jan 2023

Parents/Carers are invited to our Walk through on Thursday 2nd February from 9am to 9.30am

Healthy Schools Award

16 Dec 2022

We are thrilled to have been awarded the Healthy Schools Award