St Michael and All Angels is committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle amongst children, staff and families.

Healthy Lifestyles

We are committed to developing healthy, active children with positive attitudes towards exercise and nutrition. We recognise that instilling knowledge and understanding of basic health and physical activity principles from an early age is essential for lifelong participation in sport and physical activity. Our curriculum promotes physical literacy and helps pupils understand how healthy choices impact both their short- and long-term well-being.

We actively participate in the Healthy Schools initiative, offering every child a free fruit or vegetable daily and providing access to freshly cooked, nutritious meals prepared in our on-site kitchen. Healthy snacks are also available at break times, supporting consistent messaging around healthy choices.

These messages are also embedded into our PSHE curriculum, PE theory lessons, and practical PE, ensuring children regularly reflect on the importance of exercise and a balanced diet. We even grow our own fruit and vegetables on-site, giving children first-hand experience of where food comes from and encouraging healthy eating habits from a young age.

Life Skills

At St Michael and All Angels, we are committed to ensuring that every child leaves Year 6 equipped with crucial life skills that support their independence, safety, and wellbeing. We focus on three key areas: bikeability, first aid, and swimming.

1) Bikeability:

We have implemented a comprehensive bike training programme spanning from Reception to Year 6. Young children in the early years develop balance and coordination using balance bikes, while Years 3 and 4 focus on learning to ride confidently. Years 5 and 6 complete Level 2 training, which prepares them to ride safely on roads. As a result, every child in Key Stage 2 can now ride a bike, and this year alone, 40 children learned to ride for the first time.

2) First Aid:

All Year 6 pupils participate in accredited first aid training, receiving certification upon completion. This valuable experience equips children with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively in emergency situations.

3) Swimming:

Our efforts have been successful in maintaining high swimming participation and competency levels across the school.

By prioritising these life skills, we prepare our pupils not only for their transition to secondary education but also for lifelong health, safety, and independence.

Active 10

We have recently transitioned from the Daily Mile to the Active 10 initiative in order to better support the physical, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing of all our pupils—regardless of age, ability, or personal circumstance. Active 10 is a daily, inclusive, and engaging physical activity where children spend ten minutes each day being active in a way that suits them.

Unlike a set running route, Active 10 offers variety and excitement. Each week introduces a new challenge, from hula hooping and dance parties to circuit training and skipping games. It is a social activity carried out outdoors wherever possible, with children encouraged to move at their own pace, in the fresh air, alongside friends. This inclusive approach not only promotes fitness but also builds confidence, encourages peer bonding, and brings a sense of joy to daily movement.

Active Playtimes
We are committed to making the most of every opportunity to keep children active throughout the day. Lunchtimes are structured, active, and inclusive, supported by a collaborative approach involving playground staff, class teachers, our PE coach, and trained play leaders (which we are continuing to develop). Pupils are offered a variety of both adult-directed and child-initiated activities, making use of a wide range of playground equipment to encourage movement, cooperation, and enjoyment.

Alongside general physical activity, lunchtimes also serve as a key window for competition preparation. Children are supported by staff with specialist expertise—including the PE lead and coaches—who run focused sessions to help pupils practise for upcoming events in sports such as gymnastics, football, athletics, and more. These informal, skill-building opportunities contribute to the school's success in competitions and give pupils confidence to represent the school, while promoting teamwork and resilience in a low-pressure setting.

Sensory Circuits & Fitness Support

Since our last Platinum award, we have significantly strengthened the support offered to pupils through targeted intervention, particularly focusing on inclusion and readiness to learn. One of the key improvements has been the implementation of Sensory Circuits, a structured motor skills programme designed to help children reach the optimal state for learning.

In collaboration with the SENCO, the PE lead has worked to identify pupils with additional needs who would benefit from tailored physical activity sessions. The Sensory Circuits routine involves three carefully sequenced stages:

·        Alerting – Activities that activate the body and release excess energy (e.g. jumping, bouncing, or crawling).

·        Organising – Skill-based challenges that require focus, balance, and coordination.

·        Calming – Activities such as stretching or yoga that help children return to class settled and ready to learn.

These sessions have not only improved motor coordination and focus but have also had a noticeable impact on confidence, emotional regulation, and engagement in classroom learning. Alongside this, we have introduced targeted fitness sessions for identified pupils to build stamina, resilience, and self-esteem—ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, feels included in our physical activity culture.

Celebrating Achievements

At St Michael and All Angels, we place great importance on recognising and celebrating pupils’ achievements in PE and sport, both in and out of school. Sporting success and effort are regularly acknowledged in school assemblies, where children receive certificates for participation, progress, or excellence. Achievements are also shared on social media and our school platform Seesaw, allowing families and the wider school community to join in the celebration.

We also encourage pupils to take pride in their out-of-school sporting achievements, from football club trophies to dance medals and swimming badges. Children are invited to share their accomplishments with their class, and we proudly display photos on Seesaw and our social media channels, reinforcing a culture where all forms of physical activity are valued and every child feels proud of their progress.

Sporting Pathways to Foster Lifelong Participation

For every sport taught in PE, we offer corresponding extra-curricular clubs, allowing children to further develop the skills introduced in lessons and explore their personal interests. These clubs serve as a crucial step in our structured sporting pathway, which includes organising Level 1 (intra-school) competitions and Level 2 (inter-school) competitions.

Children who demonstrate particular talent or enthusiasm are then supported to progress by being directed towards local sports clubs outside school. This pathway approach has been highly successful, with many clubs oversubscribed, indicating strong engagement and interest from pupils. We have seen notable successes across a range of sports: numerous children have joined local rugby clubs, both boys and girls are active in football clubs, athletes have connected with local athletics groups, and we maintain close links with Wirral Gymnastics, Wirral Athletics and local dance clubs. Additionally, we have established partnerships with community facilities and programmes such as Activity for All, LFC Academy, and Tranmere Rovers, ensuring children have access to high-quality opportunities beyond the school setting. This approach not only nurtures sporting talent but also encourages lifelong learning habits and physical activity.