KS2 · Year 3 · National Curriculum Aligned
Year 3 PE Scheme of Work
In Year 3, pupils begin KS2 PE with a more structured approach to skill development, tactics and performance. They learn to apply movement skills in a wider range of contexts, begin to understand how the body works and why physical activity matters for health. Lessons develop the ability to observe, evaluate and improve performance in themselves and others.
The programme covers athletics, gymnastics, dance, swimming, striking and fielding games, and outdoor adventurous activities. Pupils begin to use the language of tactics and strategy and learn to compete and cooperate with increasing maturity.
At a glance
Units
6 half-term units
Key stage
KS2
Year group
Year 3
NC alignment
Full programmes of study
Expected prior knowledge
- ✓Running, jumping and throwing skills from KS1 athletics
- ✓Gymnastics sequences combining travelling and balancing on floor and low apparatus
- ✓Dance vocabulary and experience of performing to others
- ✓Simple game skills: targeting, passing and net games
Units across the year
Six half-term units covering all strands of the KS2 PE programme of study.
Autumn 1Athletics
Athletics: Running and Jumping
National Curriculum objectives
- –To develop running technique for speed and sustained effort
- –To improve jumping for distance and height with coaching-point focus
- –To compete honestly and evaluate performance using simple data
Key activities
- –Sprint technique: high knees, arm drive, powerful push-off
- –Relay running: baton passing in the changeover zone
- –Endurance running: developing pace judgement over longer distances
- –Long jump: run-up, takeoff, flight and two-footed landing
- –Cross-country-style run with personal pace strategy
Key vocabulary
sprintrelaybatonpacelong jumptakeoffendurancetechnique
Autumn 2Gymnastics
Gymnastics: Sequences and Apparatus
National Curriculum objectives
- –To develop flexibility, strength and control performing longer gymnastics sequences
- –To use apparatus safely and with growing confidence
- –To compose and perform sequences showing clear actions, shapes and levels
Key activities
- –Developing individual skills: cartwheels, handstands against a wall, forward and backward rolls
- –Exploring how to use apparatus: beams, boxes, bars and mats
- –Creating a 5-action sequence on the floor with clear start and finish
- –Extending the sequence onto two pieces of apparatus
- –Peer coaching: observing and feeding back on one element of a partner's sequence
Key vocabulary
sequenceapparatuscartwheelhandstandlevelflightrotationcompose
Spring 1Dance
Dance: Stimulus-Based
National Curriculum objectives
- –To perform dances using a range of movement patterns
- –To choreograph a short dance in response to a non-musical stimulus
- –To develop expressive and dynamic quality in performance
Key activities
- –Exploring movement in response to visual stimuli: artwork, photographs, natural phenomena
- –Identifying actions, dynamics (speed, weight, flow) and spatial elements in response
- –Learning a taught phrase and adapting it to a personal stimulus
- –Creating a small-group dance of 16 counts in response to an agreed stimulus
- –Performing and evaluating: what communicates clearly and what could be improved
Key vocabulary
stimulusdynamicsactionspaceweightflowchoreographexpression
Spring 2Swimming
Swimming
National Curriculum objectives
- –To swim competently over 25 metres using recognised strokes
- –To develop front crawl, backstroke and an introduction to breaststroke
- –To perform safe self-rescue techniques
Key activities
- –Consolidating front crawl: bilateral breathing and continuous stroke
- –Learning backstroke: body position, kick and arm action
- –Introduction to breaststroke: simultaneous arm and leg action
- –Timed 25-metre swim to assess progress
- –Safe self-rescue: survival float, treading water and reaching assistance
Key vocabulary
front crawlbackstrokebreaststrokebreathebilateralstrokerescuefloat
Summer 1Games
Striking and Fielding Games
National Curriculum objectives
- –To develop striking skills using hands and bats in striking and fielding games
- –To understand the roles of batter, fielder and pitcher
- –To apply simple fielding tactics to prevent scoring
Key activities
- –Developing hand-eye coordination: tracking and striking a stationary and moving ball
- –Batting technique: grip, stance, backswing and follow-through
- –Bowling and underarm feeding to a batter
- –Fielding: gathering, stopping and returning the ball quickly
- –Playing simplified rounders or cricket with adapted rules
Key vocabulary
strikebatbowlfieldbatterpitcherruntactic
Summer 2OAA
Outdoor and Adventurous Activity: Orienteering
National Curriculum objectives
- –To take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and in teams
- –To develop map-reading skills using simple plans of the school site
- –To build problem-solving and communication skills through OAA
Key activities
- –Learning to orientate a simple map to the environment
- –Following a score orienteering course on the school grounds
- –Working in pairs to find controls in the correct order
- –Problem-solving challenges: blindfold trails, compass direction walks
- –Reflecting on teamwork: what helped the team succeed
Key vocabulary
maporientatecontrolcompassdirectionnorthrouteteam
Progression into Year 4
In Year 4, pupils build on KS2 foundations with more complex game tactics, demanding gymnastic and dance composition, formal competitive athletics and the introduction of net and wall games using rackets. They develop greater independence in evaluating and improving their own and others' performance.
Individual lesson plans
Full lesson frameworks — learning objectives, vocabulary, lesson structure, and common misconceptions — for each unit in this scheme.
View all Year 3 PE lesson plans →