Physical Education Curriculum

The Physical Education Programme at St Andrew’s College Junior School provides children with learning opportunities through the medium of movement and contributes to their overall development by helping them to lead full, active and healthy lives.

The Irish Primary Physical Education Curriculum provides a balanced range of activities for children and over the course of an academic year, and throughout a child’s time in Primary school, a range of skills are taught and learnt in the disciplines of Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games and Outdoor and adventure activities. Further information on objectives can be found here.

In twice weekly PE lessons, we prioritise enjoyment and play and the development of skills and understanding at an age-appropriate level. In upper Primary years, pupils have the opportunity to play competitively and we have excellent boys and girls teams in hockey and boys teams in rugby. We also enter local and nationwide competitions in swimming, tennis, basketball, golf, athletics and soccer.

Assessment

Student assessment within the class environment takes place through individual tests within class time, based on the individual student, which encourages personal improvement and development. These are fun tests which allow the student to observe personal achievements during the year when they successfully improve on their own personal results.

This is done through bleep tests, individual timed tests on motor skill development, cross country, agility course tests and orienteering.

Extra-Curricular Activities

The St Andrew’s extra-curricular programme complements students in their academic and social development and is world class. It provides the students with the opportunity to further develop by participating and acquiring proficiency in activities which are outside the normal class environment of the school.

Enjoyment is the most important objective in the organisation of these activities.  It is vital that the children enjoy what they are doing and that they participate to the best of their ability. They will then experience the truth of the old maxim, 'You only get out of life what you put into it'. All extra-curricular activities take place after the normal school day and are entirely voluntary.