Physical Education

Filter By:

The PE Department at St Augustine’s Priory is vibrant and energetic whose aim is to give all girls the opportunity to participate in a broad and balanced curriculum.

We strive for every student to achieve success in both curricular and extra-curricular activities working to the best of her ability and to gain an understanding of the role of sport in a balanced lifestyle throughout their life. Our teams consistently excel in local and national fixtures.

We are proud that all students at St Augustine's Priory are taught by subject specialists, even from the very start of their school journey. Building fundamental movement skills is essential to every child's development. During the Pre-Preps, pupils focus on the foundations of running, jumping, throwing, and skipping, alongside Gymnastics, Dance, and Athletics. As pupils progress, elements of competition and more sport-specific experiences are gradually introduced to help them transition confidently into the Prep programme. 

During the Prep years, pupils build on these foundations and are introduced to a broader range of sport-specific skills and activities. We teach skills that are transferable across multiple sports, ensuring every pupil has the toolkit to enjoy and participate in activities ranging from Netball and Football to Tag Rugby and Handball. 

From this stage, baseline fitness testing begins to help pupils monitor their progress against national standards. Pupils also participate in a broad programme including Netball, Football, Hockey, Dance, Gymnastics, Fitness, Athletics, Rounders and Tennis. Swimming lessons are provided at a local pool from Years 3 to 5. 

Our focus during Key Stage 3 is to build sport-specific skills while ensuring every pupil develops the confidence and physical literacy to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle. Alongside our core sports of Netball, Hockey, Athletics, Cricket, Football and Tennis, girls want a broad programme that also includes Dance, Gymnastics, and Fitness. In Year 8, pupils are introduced to new invasion games such as Handball and Lacrosse, while in Year 9, they develop leadership skills through coaching and officiating. 

Baseline fitness testing continues for all pupils, but we have also introduced a bespoke Strength & Conditioning programme designed specifically for young women in sport. This ensures our pupils can meet the physical demands of modern-day sport, while building resilience, confidence and long-term health. 

PE remains compulsory for all girls in Key Stage 4, with many choosing to study it further at GCSE. We are proud of our most recent results, with almost 80% of students achieving grades 7–9. 

At Key Stage 4, our focus is on embedding the value of physical activity for life. We believe in a student-centred approach, where pupil voice is at the centre of our delivery. Girls have input into the activities on offer, ensuring their PE experience is positive and relevant. We also provide workshops and specialist coaching to give pupils greater exposure to diverse ways of maintaining an active lifestyle. 

PE remains compulsory in the Sixth Form and is highly valued as both a physical outlet and a means to support balance during academic study. Our ambition is that every girl leaves with a strong education in sport, health and exercise, as well as the confidence to sustain an active lifestyle into adulthood. 

A Level PE is also offered, one of the broadest academic courses available. It combines elements of Sport, Biology, Physics, Psychology, History and Chemistry, providing a rigorous and varied programme. Our students consistently achieve excellent results, with grades ranging from A* to C, and many progress to study Sport-related degrees at leading universities. 

We are proud to offer one of the widest extra-curricular programmes in the area, with over 50 clubs across the school and more than 20 sport-specific options. Over 80% of our pupils currently attend at least one club, highlighting the strength of our culture of participation. 

From Nursery through to the Sixth Form, girls are provided with opportunities to engage in activities before, during and after school. These range from Gymnastics, Cheerleading, and Dance to Football, Cricket, Cross-Country, and Netball. Fixtures are an integral part of school life, with every pupil encouraged to represent the school and experience the value of teamwork, competition and community. 

The Priory Netball Academy continues to support our top athletes, with pupils representing elite pathways including London Pulse, Saracens Mavericks and Middlesex. Regular sports tours – including Netball in Paris and Hockey in Holland – provide further inspiration and development opportunities. 

Our pupils regularly achieve outstanding results at both the team and individual levels, a testament to the strength and success of our sports program. Recent highlights include: 

  • All Sixth Form students who choose competitive sport in PE have represented the school in fixtures, while 100% of Year 7 pupils have been given the opportunity to represent the school for the first time. 

  • Hockey is going from strength to strength, with success in London tournaments and across the school fixture circuit. 

  • Multiple Netball teams (U16, U15, U13) progressing through successive rounds of the Sisters n Sport National Cup. 

  • Cross Country success in the Ealing Championships, with podium finishes for both individuals and teams. 

  • Multiple Athletic Success in ESAA with qualification to regional rounds. 

  • U12 and U13 Hockey teams are qualifying strongly for Middlesex tournaments. 

  • Pupils representing Middlesex and Ealing at the London Youth Games. 

  • Individual sports scholarships and county/national selections across a range of disciplines. 

We continue to celebrate the achievements of all our pupils – from those discovering new activities for the first time to those competing at the highest level – and remain committed to providing the very best sporting opportunities for every girl.