Games and Swimming

Games and Swimming are an exciting and important part of our curriculum and continue throughout the year.

We have now extended our range in the area of swimming to include all children from Year 1 (5 years of age) to Year 6. All children (with the exception of the Nursery and Reception) have a weekly swimming lesson at the Arches Swimming Pool complex. They are taught in a number of different ability groups and Amateur Swimming Association Water Skills Awards are given to those children who reach the required standard. The children are tested annually. Furthermore, over the last few years a Swimming Gala has been an exciting annual occurrence. This event has also taken place at the Arches Swimming Pool.

All our children in Nursery and Reception enjoy a weekly afternoon of games and skill-based activities in the school grounds and we have a large collection of equipment for this purpose. Our Annual Sports Day has traditionally been a culmination of much of what happens week by week throughout the year. It is organised on a house basis and in such a way that almost all our children compete (either individually or in groups) successfully. The main emphasis is, of course, enjoyment for pupils, parents and even teachers!

P.E.

Each term we provide students with a variety of different sports to help develop their co-ordination and enjoyment of physical activity.

In the Autumn and Spring terms students in Year 1 attend a spacious indoor centre where they learn dance, develop gross motor skills and enjoy team building games. Furthermore, in the Autumn term all students from Year 2 upwards attend the Blackheath Rugby club, arguably one of the oldest Rugby Clubs in the world. Pupils are taught how to play ‘tag rugby’ by professional club coaches and the girls are taught a variety of ball skills using different equipment and interesting games. In the Spring term students attend the Meridian Sports Centre where they enjoy the use of a full sized wet surface football pitch. Students are taught the relevant skills and play the following sports – football, netball and hockey. During the Summer term when we enjoy good weather we by custom and practice use the adjacent heath for a variety of sports. These include athletics, cricket and rounders.