PE & Games
THE PROVISION OF GAMES AT HATHEROP CASTLE SCHOOL
There is wide and varied range of sport on offer at Hatherop Castle. Our philosophy is based on providing support to those who aspire to compete at the highest level, whilst offering opportunity and encouragement to those pupils who are simply, wanting to enjoy their sport and physical activity. Sport at Hatherop Castle is a compulsory part of the curriculum. We believe that during their time here, the majority of our pupils will find a physical activity, which not only challenges them, but also stimulates a lifelong interest. A dedicated cohort of staff, who continually enthuse the children to achieve their individual potential, ably nurtures the wealth of talent of all children within the school. External coaches with specialist skills are brought in to complement the team, offering additional support and expertise.
BOY'S GAMES
CRICKET
The most important benefit of cricket is an increase in hand to eye co-ordination. In order to bowl the ball successfully, or to hit that ball as far as possible, the children must develop a keen sense of hand-eye co-ordination, in addition to focus and determination. These skills are especially important for children to develop at an early age. Children playing cricket learn co-operation and other social skills, while building a sense of pride and accomplishment when their team wins.
FOOTBALL
Playing football provides the children at Hatherop Castle with plenty of healthy exercise, which is important for both their immediate and long term health. Football requires a number of different actions, all beneficial to young children. Kicking a soccer ball may be simple enough, but maintaining ball control, passing, shooting, and defending all require using different muscle groups, making the sport ideal for well rounded training.
HOCKEY
Hockey develops hand to eye co-ordination skills, balance and agility. It develops spatial awareness and team work. The game in Years 7&8 in preparation for senior school.
RUGBY
Rugby is a popular sport at Hatherop Castle. The game requires strength, endurance and fitness. Rugby is very much a contact sport and involves players acquiring a combination of skills and techniques, which are introduced in the Pre-Prep and then developed further as they go through the School. The practice of tackling is only introduced to the appropriate age groups. Children and younger players are introduced to rugby gradually, through more modified and non-contact versions of the sport. Rugby brings other benefits, such as: Team skills Social interaction, communication skills and self-discipline.
GIRLS' GAMES
HOCKEY
Hockey develops hand to eye co-ordination skills, balance and agility. It develops spatial awareness and team work. The game is taught from an early age in the Pre-Prep and the skills and knowledge are enhanced further in the Prep School.
NETBALL
Netball is a fast-paced and intensive game. The techniques are taught from an early age in the Pre-Prep and then further enhanced through the Prep School. Netball develops and improves upper body strength, working key arm muscles, improves hand-eye co-ordination, with precision passing and shooting necessary to succeed. It also improves the body’s flexibility and nimbleness, as it requires quick changes of direction and speed.
TENNIS
Tennis is taught throughout the year and from an early age, with the opportunity to have extra 1 to 1 or group tennis lessons, taught by highly qualified staff. Lessons aim to develop the child’s movement as well as enhancing all aspects of fine and gross motor skills.
ROUNDERS
Rounders provides good team work and decision making and tactical awareness. This includes several basic balls skills of throwing, catching, fielding and batting. Which is introduced in Pre-Prep and enhanced and developed in the Prep School.
THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME AT HATHEROP CASTLE
ATHLETICS
The aim of the Athletics programme is to produce excellent athletes by enabling pupils to develop their natural abilities to the full, while providing an opportunity for all those with an interest to learn and to develop their talents. Coaching is provided in the full range of events; on the track: 100m, 200m, 800m, 1500m; and in the field: shot, javelin, discus, high jump and long jump. We compete against a large number of schools and have reached regional and national finals.
BADMINTON
As the children continue to play badminton throughout the school, they will see a raise in stamina and endurance. Badminton requires running, jumping, and fast paced movement, this boosts flexibility and speed. Since badminton is a high-speed game, this improves reflexes and hand-eye coordination.
BASKETBALL
The ball skills taught from an early age help the children develop their co-ordination, movement and spatial awareness, which are the fundamentals to playing this game. The game offers a number of potential benefits and is a popular game amongst both boys’ and girls’.
CROSS-COUNTRY
Cross-country running is open to all. Training assumes a motivation for good health, competition in both Michaelmas and Lent terms. We start our training in September with very short distances and build gradually and carefully to longer distances. Times are taken after each session and the children strive towards beating their personal targets set. Training is often a mixture of long slow distances, circuits and speed work. One of the aims of the club is to build a life-long affinity towards running and competition. We aim to introduce triathlon into the games programme in the Trinity Term 2012.
GYMNASTICS / DANCE
Gymnastics and Dance is an important aspect of the child’s physical development. It is implemented into the P.E. programme as low as the Nursery and taught throughout the Prep School.
SOCIAL – it helps children to understand socially acceptable behaviour, respect for other people, manners, sharing and waiting a turn. Co-operation and integration are encouraged at all times.
PHYSICAL – it contributes to the development of physical and motor skills. It also provides the child with the experience of managing their bodies with assurance and with a measure of success.
LINGUAL – it encourages the correct use of language when referring to skills, apparatus and motions, giving the children the opportunity to express their feelings and opinions.
INTELLECTUAL – it allows children the ability to think for themselves, to stimulate their imaginations and to solve problems safely.
CREATIVE – it gives children the opportunity to act out a creative theme, whether it is a fairy story, nursery rhyme or everyday actions.
EMOTIONAL – it reinforces and enhances learning through the use of music, colours, numbers, shapes and vocabulary – beneath / behind, right / left, counting, under and over.
HEALTH RELATED FITNESS
This topic comprises of each child performing various ‘Fitness Tests’. Basic knowledge of the heart and a healthy lifestyle is introduced from an early age. More in-depth analysis is undertaken throughout their time in the Prep School.
SWIMMING
Swimming helps to promote physical development and this is the main reason for implementing this activity to every year group in the school. All aspects taught allow the instructors to focus on developing the child’s co-ordination, water safety, stroke development and enjoyment for life.
Director of Sport and Head of Boys' Games: Mr N Bailey BSc. (Hons) PGCE
Head of Girls' Games: Mrs C Walker, BA (Hons)
