Physical Education

PE and Sport

Values

Although it is one of several Foundation subjects, Geoffrey Field recognises that PE and provides a unique vehicle for transmitting values that extend beyond the subject itself.

Some of these values are;

1. The school promotes a healthy lifestyle that includes regular strenuous exercise.
2.  Students learn that competition is a good thing. They are taught how to win, but to do so with grace. They learn that when we lose, we learn from our mistakes and this in turn leads to improvement in performance.
3.  Students learn how to persevere with new physical activities and to focus on personal goals.
4. They are taught how to co-operate in pairs, groups and teams. They are taught that rules are important for fair competition.

PE Lessons

At the heart of our PE provision is the PE lesson. Students are taught two PE lessons a week for the duration of the school year. Each lesson should be a minimum of 45 minutes long. Students are taught PE through discrete sporting disciplines such as gymnastics, tennis, hockey or athletics. In addition to this, we deliver sessions to specifically develop fine and gross motor skills. 

Specialist Teachers

We work with a range of specialist teachers in order to provide our children high quality PE sessions. Our coaches work alongside our teachers to provide PE lessons in disciplines such as gymnastics, dance, cricket and basketball. Not only do our pupils benefit from the coaches expertise, it is also a fantastic opportunities for our teachers to develop their own PE teaching.

Kit

We believe that our students will achieve higher standards in PE if they are wearing correct clothing. We have a specially designed high quality PE kit that all students are expected to wear. If PE kit is forgotten, parents are reminded by a standard letter.

Swimming

All students in are given the opportunity to learn to swim. Each year group has ten 30 minute swimming lessons at a local leisure centre. Students have a 15 minute brisk walk there and back as part of the experience. All teachers and TAs in the year group walk with the students to the leisure centre and, under the supervision of two suitably qualified coaches, take an active role in the swimming teaching. Many of our teachers and TAs themselves have taken part in a Level 1 ASA course and are confident in working alongside our swimming coaches. We ask parents to make a contribution towards the cost of these swimming sessions.

Sports After School Clubs

We have a well-established and extensive programme of sports after school clubs available for our students to extend their interests in specific sporting disciplines. This year we have offered: cricket, netball, basketball, gymnastics, street dance, football, boxersize hockey and running clubs. Coaching is provided by a combination of teachers, TAs and specialist teachers. Students pay between £1.50 and £2.00/ session for these clubs to cover costs. However, funding is provided for those who need it to guarantee access for all to this provision.

After school clubs are our vehicle for inter school sporting competition. We also stage regular and popular evening performances and attend community events for our street dance and gymnastics members.

Community Sports Links

We have long standing links with several community sports clubs such as Reading Rockets, AK Gymnastics and Reading Football club. We work with clubs such as these to provide pathways for students to achieve excellence in a wider context. Our partnerships with such clubs provides opportunities to work on new initiatives, funding opportunities and a wider pool of expertise. We actively seek to establish new partnerships and deepen existing ones.

Outdoor Adventurous Education

Children take part in Outdoor Adventurous Activities within their curriculum sessions in years 5 and 6. This aims to develop map reading skills as well as having a heavy emphasis on team building. We provide two key enrichment opportunities, Ufton Court and Rhos-Y-Gwalia, which aim to supplement this area of the PE curriculum.

Ufton Adventure

All children in year 4 are given the opportunity to have a 3 day residential at our own nearby outdoor adventure centre.  This is a purpose built log cabin site recently opened in the grounds of Ufton Court. http://www.uftoncourt.co.uk/

During the 3 days pupils will have a variety of challenging physical activities including low-ropes, hiking, team games, roller boarding, archery and orienteering.  This is provided free of charge.

We also provide additional visits to Ufton court for selected children. These children are selected for a range of reasons and will be provided experiences tailored for their specific need.

Rhos-Y-Gwalia

Building on this enthusiasm, in year 5 & 6 all pupils are given the opportunity of attending a 6 day residential at Rhos-Y-Gwalia

in North Wales where the activities are more challenging.  These include fell walking, gorge walking, rock climbing, caving & lake canoeing. http://www.rygoutdoor.co.uk/Welcome.html