Sport
Developing a life-long love of sport is seen as a primary objective for all pupils, which is why children are given plenty of opportunities to participate in physical exercise. The curriculum is split into two areas of Physical Education and Games. All children receive a one hour Physical Education lesson and three Games sessions per week (two for Year 3).
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The Physical Education Department aims to stimulate and maintain pupils’ interest and enjoyment in PE and to promote health and fitness.
The pupils are taught in their form groups and receive a broad and balanced range of activities on a half term rota. Many of the activities are taught in the Sports Hall, which provides outstanding sporting facilities and allow the pupils to experience a variety of sports, including:
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Dance
- Gymnastics
- Health Related Exercise
- Indoor Hockey
- Outdoor Adventure Activities
- Tennis
- Volleyball
In addition to the indoor activities, during the Summer term, swimming is taught in the outdoor swimming pool and athletics is taught on the school’s extensive playing fields. Year 8 pupils conclude the Physical Education course with an outdoor adventure activities trip to Knapp House Activity Centre in Devon.
GAMES
Girls are taught hockey, netball and rounders and boys are taught rugby, football, hockey and cricket. Pupils play matches on most Wednesday, and frequently, on Saturday afternoons. All pupils have the opportunity to represent the school at some point during the year, and to play in house matches in each of the sports. Our pupils play in tournaments at both regional and national levels and are regularly included in district, county and regional squads. The school hosts rugby and hockey festivals in September each year and netball tournaments for both the Under 11 and Under 13 teams.
Further challenge is provided by regular sports tours which have taken both boys and girls to play against teams in Zimbabwe, Holland, Ireland, Jersey, Dubai and South Africa. In South Africa, the rugby team returned victors of a South African national rugby tournament. More recently, our pupils and staff toured Barbados (March 2009); the boys played cricket and the girls played hockey and netball.
In addition to the main sports, the school also enters a number of athletics competitions including the National Catholic Championships. Swimming matches against other schools are regularly held during the Summer term.
PRE-PREP SPORT
The early years physical education teaching focuses on core stability, strength and co-ordination through gymnastic and dance activities. Ball skills and team activities are also introduced.
In Year 2 the pupils have a weekly swimming lesson at the Leisure centre in Cricklade. Year 2 pupils also receive an additional 1 hour Games lesson per week in which we focus on hand eye co-ordination and invasion skills. This is the pupils first introduction to the team sports that they will play in Year 3 and beyond.
FACILITIES
Sports Fields
We have extensive sports fields with 4 rugby or football pitches used during the Winter, 2 cricket squares, an athletics track and 5 rounders pitches during the Summer.
Astroturf
This is a large surface that can provide two 7 a-side hockey or 6 a-side football pitches during the Winter and three tennis courts and an area for cricket during the summer.
Sports Hall
The fully equipped sports hall includes; 4 badminton courts, a basketball court, indoor football and indoor nets.
Swimming Pool
The outdoor heated swimming pool is 25m in length and is well used as part of the curriculum and in the evenings by the boarders.
Netball Courts
We have 3 netball courts.