PE and Sports Premium
PE and sport premium for primary schools
Our aim has been to ensure that the funding has been deployed to achieve long term, self sustaining improvement. To that end, we have invested in the professional development of staff as well as providing qualified specialist coaches to work alongside teachers and to offer additional extra-curricular opportunities. We have given more children more opportunities to take part in competitive events (in both intra- and inter-school competition).
St. Mary’s Cockerton School has been awarded the School Games Mark Gold Award for every year since 2016 and in 2023 we were one of only a few schools to achieve the Platinum Award, which has subsequently been extended until 2026.
This highly prestigious award, recognised by Ofsted, reflects the importance we place on PE and Sport at school, as well as the hard work and efforts of the staff and of course the pupils. We plan to continue to enhance the curriculum by providing many more exciting PE and Sport activities in the next academic year.
The award recognises schools’:
- Overall vision for PE, physical activity and school sport
- Quality of PE
- Quality of school sport
- Quality of physical activity
- Use of PE, physical activity and sport as a catalyst for wider learning.
Reporting PE and sport premium grant expenditure 2024 – 2025 From 2025, schools are required to complete a digital expenditure reporting return which outlines how it has used the premium and the impact it has had on achieving the aims and objectives of the funding. The following information summarises this return.
| Total amount of grant funding your school received for academic year 2024 to 2025 | £17660.00 |
| Categories of grant spending | |
| CPD internal learning and development | £11274.86 |
| CPD inter-school development sessions | £750.00 |
| CPD external coaches supporting confidence and competence | £750.00 |
| Internal learning and development | £11274.86 |
| Inter-school development sessions | £750.00 |
| External coaches supporting confidence and competence | £750.00 |
| Total school spending on CPD | £12774.86 |
| Internal school based extra-curricular opportunities? | £1617.38 |
| Internal equipment and resources | £567.41 |
| Educational platforms and resources | £585.00 |
| Total school spending on internal activities | £2769.79 |
| External activities organised by School Games organiser network? | £2335.00 |
| Total school spending on external activities | £2335.00 |
| Total spent of PE and sports premium | £17879.65 |
Opportunities, impacts and sustainability details
Opportunities in sport
The school has allocated funding to enhance PE, sport, and physical activity opportunities for pupils with SEND and long-term medical conditions by supporting their participation in extracurricular activities and competitions. Additionally, targeted spending has been directed at improving girls’ access to PE and sports through specialist activities, engagement with community clubs, and data-driven approaches to better understand and support their needs.
Impacts and improvements
The PE and sport premium funding has had a positive and wide-reaching impact across the school, including:
- Staff Development: Increased confidence, knowledge, and skills among staff in teaching PE and sport.
- Pupil Engagement: Greater participation of all pupils in regular physical activity and sport.
- School Improvement: Raised the profile of PE and sport, contributing to whole-school improvement.
- Inclusive Opportunities: Broader and more equal access to a range of sports and physical activities.
- Competitive Participation: Increased involvement in competitive sports.
- Key Outcomes Achieved:
- Higher pupil attainment in PE and swimming/water safety.
- Increased physical activity levels.
- More pupils participating in school and extra-curricular sports.
- More staff completing CPD and engaging in extra-curricular activities.
Sustainability
The school’s spending of PE and sport premium funding has had a positive impact on sustainability, ensuring that improvements made in physical education and sport are long-lasting and embedded into school practice.
Swimming and water safety
The school has seen a positive impact from its PE and sport premium funding on swimming and water safety. A high percentage of Year 6 pupils can swim competently, use a range of strokes effectively, and perform safe self-rescue, reflecting strong outcomes in this area.
Year 6 Swimming and Water Safety Attainment
| Skill Area | Percentage of Pupils |
| Swim 25 metres competently, confidently, proficiently | 89% |
| Use a range of strokes effectively | 72% |
| Perform safe self-rescue in water-based situations | 67% |
Today Year 6 attended a very moving Leavers' Service at Durham Cathedral.
They enjoyed the various prayer stations and joined in with the children from Church of England schools across the Diocese to celebrate their time in primary and think about the next stage of their educational journey.
As always, their behaviour was exemplary and they were wonderful ambassadors for our school. ... See MoreSee Less
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As part of our celebration of Pride Month, we have set ourselves the challenge of completing a Pride jigsaw before the end of the month. Groups of children are coming down at playtimes and are doing a great job but with 500 pieces we have a long way to go!! ... See MoreSee Less
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🦋☀️ When they returned to school yesterday it was obvious that Reception had had a fantastic day at Butterfly World and Preston Park ☀️🦋
Miss Clarke summarised the day as follows:
'Our day began at Butterfly World, where the children took part in an exciting workshop all about the life cycle of a butterfly. They listened beautifully to our guide and impressed everyone with their enthusiasm and thoughtful questions. The children had some incredible hands-on experiences, including holding a caterpillar, examining butterfly eggs (which one butterfly seemed very keen on laying on Mrs Carter today!), and feeling a chrysalis, which was surprisingly hard. The highlight for many was holding a butterfly that had only recently emerged from its chrysalis. Seeing these different stages of the life cycle up close brought our learning to life and sparked lots of curiosity and wonder.
Our adventure didn't stop there! We also met a blue-tongued skink, explored the reptile exhibits and spent time watching the ever-popular meerkats.
After a busy morning of learning, we headed to Preston Park for lunch and some well-earned playtime. The children loved exploring the playground and demonstrated fantastic gross motor skills as they climbed, balanced and slid. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they challenged themselves and encouraged their friends.
Throughout the day, the children were an absolute credit to our school. Their behaviour was exceptional from start to finish. They were polite, respectful, inquisitive and kind, listening carefully, following instructions and engaging brilliantly with everyone they met. We received several compliments about how well-behaved they were, and I could not have been prouder of them.
Days like today are what make Reception so special. It has been a real privilege to watch the children learn, explore, laugh and make memories together. They embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm and left us all with plenty of reasons to smile.
I have a feeling there will be some very tired Reception children tonight... and perhaps a few tired adults too! 😴💤
Thank you for your support in helping to make days like this possible. We have had a truly wonderful day and made memories that I am sure the children will be talking about for a long time to come. 🦋😊🌳' ... See MoreSee Less
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Here are some wonderful photos of Year 6's trip to the Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland. It's a truly fascinating place in such a beautiful setting. ... See MoreSee Less
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Year 5 and 6 had a fantastic trip to Auckland Castle and the Faith Museum today, learning about the history of Christianity in the north east through handling artefacts and experiencing the rooms that the Prince Bishops have used over centuries in the castle! ... See MoreSee Less
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Some more wonderful photos from this very special event ... See MoreSee Less
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Huge congratulations to our Year 4 Girls Football Team who won today's tournament at St John's CE Academy Darlington in association with FC Darlington Locomotives. It was a wonderful afternoon with teams from all the schools playing brilliantly! ... See MoreSee Less
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Our Year 6 choir had the great honour of taking part in the Bishop of Durham and Darlington Sword ceremony earlier today.
This ceremony takes place each time a new Bishop of Durham enters the Diocese and dates back to medieval times. The sword (the Conyers Falchion) dates from the 13th century and is said to have been used by Sir John Conyers to slay the Sockburn Worm, a monstrous dragon-like creature said to have terrorised the area around Sockburn, Darlington.
The ceremony took place on the banks of the River Tees in Hurworth where the Bishop of Durham was presented with the falchion.
As part of the ceremony, our children sang, ‘Let There be Peace on Earth’ after which the Bishop was introduced to the dignitaries present which included: The Macebearer, The Mayor, Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff, the Mayor’s Chaplain, the Priest in Charge, the Area Dean (Father Damon), the Leader of the Council, Freeman / Freewomen of the Borough, the Mayor’s Escort and Hurworth Ward Councillors
The details of this traditional ceremony can be found by following this link: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/explore/treasures-collections/our-most-famous-items/the-conyers-falchion
The children sang beautifully and were complimented by all present on what a moving contribution they made to such an important ceremony. ... See MoreSee Less
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