Monday 6 February 2012

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Sports
Every Pupil Can Achieve Their Personal Gold Medal
Physical Education and Games are an important part of life of Albyn School. They help to create and nurture the physical, emotional and social development of every pupil. Staff in the PE and Games Department seek to involve boys and girls in sport in a manner that is both enjoyable and contributes to pupils’ fitness and well-being. The School seeks to offer opportunities for many pupils to engage in competitive sport both locally and nationally.
To download our P.E brochure http://www.albynschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/pe-brochure.pdf
General Information
Staff and Resources
Physical Education at Albyn School is taught by four full-time and one part time member of staff. All are specialist teachers and sports coaches and the generous staff to pupil ratio of around 1:20 allows them to develop relationships that draw the best from children.

Albyn School has a stunning centrepiece for sport, based in Milltimber, 5 miles south-west of Aberdeen City. In this beautiful setting we have our own playing fields, tennis courts and pavilion. The PE programme is also taught on our Queen’s Road site within the School gymnasium, the FP Club Centenary Hall and outside on our netball and tennis courts. August 2009 will see the opening of Aberdeen’s state-of-the-art Sports Village and much of our extra-curricular training will take place within this modern vibrant new facility.

Lower School PE and Games
Lower School classes receive a double period of PE each week taught by a subject specialist. For the first three years the curriculum concentrates on the basic movement concepts and imperative skills which are both generic and vital for taking part in any sporting activity. Pupils in Lower 4 and above have an additional Games morning or afternoon. Here they are introduced to a variety of sports both individual and as part of a team and begin to learn about the structure of sport and its rules.

All pupils begin swimming lessons in Lower 3 with pupils split into ability groups to ensure that each individual’s swimming needs are met. Each year we aim to improve pupils’ confidence and technique. In March, three mini swimming galas are held for Lower 3, Lower 4 & Lower 5 and for Lower 6 & Lower 7, respectively. The Cameron Cup is presented to the most improved Lower 7 swimmer. Lower 7 pupils also compete in the annual whole School swimming gala against Upper School pupils. The winners become year champions.

Lower School Extra-Curricular Activities
For younger pupils we also offer an out of school development programme which concentrates on teaching the basic concepts and tactics of competitive games. This includes the following activities starting at Lower 6:
Boys and girls tennis and athletics
Boys football and rugby
Girls hockey and netball.
For some sports there will also be lunchtime clubs for pupils in Lower 4 and Lower 5.

Upper School PE and Games
The Upper 1 – Upper 3 PE curriculum serves to develop pupils’ overall fitness as well as their skills in gymnastics, tennis and athletics and swimming. During games lessons in the autumn and spring terms, boys will be coached in football, rowing and rugby and the girls will be coached in netball and hockey.

For those with both the interest and aptitude in competitive sport, the focus will be to combine player development and improved team performance. Only the strongest team will be selected for inter-school competitions. Albyn currently fields competitive teams for the boys in football, rowing, rugby, athletics, cross country and golf and for girls in hockey, netball, cross-country, athletics, golf and tennis. We have a comprehensive fixture list locally and nationally.

During the senior games afternoon Upper 4 – Upper 6 pupils participate in a wide range of activities designed to meet the needs of the competitive and recreational sports players. Currently, activities include netball, hockey, fitness training, squash, swimming and helping with riding for the disabled. The choices for senior games may be broadened in future years.

Albyn School offers the opportunity for pupils to travel worldwide to participate in sport. In 2009, a netball and hockey team travelled to Barbados on a netball and hockey tour. In March 2010 a group of 30 pupils travelled to Alpe d’Heuz to ski. In November 2010 the U14’s boy’s football travelled to Manchester for a Football weekend. Highlights of the weekend were playing fixtures, watching the Manchester United V Wolves match and touring around the Carrington Grounds and Manchester United Stadium.

Major and Minor Sports
In order to provide greater focus to the sporting offer at Albyn, the term ‘major sports’ refers to those activities where Albyn coaches the sport during Games and PE lessons, offers squad practices out of School and fields competitive teams on a regular basis.

By contrast, minor sports are those to which we offer regular but limited coaching and may field competitive teams occasionally. There is no guarantee of extracurricular practices.