4th November 2009
We have established a sports working group which first met on 8th October. In addition, I have consulted with:
• Parents in a workshop at the AGM
• Parents on an ad-hoc basis
• The pupil council
• Staff (less formally)
• Continued liaison with the Active Schools Co-ordinator
Key areas where we are trying to make progress are:
• Having more opportunities for after school sports
• Having more opportunities for competitive sports
• Improving facilities and equipment for sports.
Opportunities for after school sports
We are already seeing an increase in after school sports opportunities:
• All classes will be offered top play/top sports at some point in the year;
• Netball is being delivered by parent volunteers;
• A tennis coach is currently offering a block of tennis to P5 and P6, and a parent volunteer has shown an interest in developing tennis in the school;
• This week we will be issuing a questionnaire to parents to determine levels of interest and any particular skills which could be used to help run more sports clubs. We hope to establish a rota of volunteers so that parents do not feel overly committed. However, we already have a parent who has undertaken a leaders course from Hockey Scotland, and other parents are booked with Active Stirling to have training to deliver dance, cycling proficiency and cheerleading.
• I have asked the pupil council to consult with their classes and report back on what sports the pupils would most like to have available.
Opportunities for competitive sports
An idea which was popular with the pupil council was to have opportunities for inter-house tournaments at the school. We plan to:
• Introduce a school PE t-shirt in each of the house colours with the school badge. Pupils will be encouraged to wear either the school t-shirt or a plain t-shirt in their house colours for PE. This will be of particular benefit at sports days, but also at other inter-house competitions which we hope to introduce.
• Offer some after school activities on a house basis – e.g. rather than offer a sport for a certain class/age group, offer it for a mix of classes (e.g. P4-P7) in three blocks (one for each house). This could culminate with a tournament where each house team plays against each other.
• Offer cheerleading in house groups, and encourage each house to develop their own cheer. Cheerleaders could then be involved at sports day and inter-house tournaments.
We wish to explore more opportunities for inter-school competitions. Active Stirling offer a number of opportunities, some with travel costs covered. E.g. if we can find a parent volunteer to deliver cricket, they will cover the cost of travelling to, and participating in, a tournament in Stirling. We may also explore options of having competitive matches/games with schools in East Dunbartonshire.
Facilities and Equipment
We have provisionally secured an additional table tennis table from Active Stirling.
In addition, some key resources which we have identified as a priority are:
• Line markings on the gym floor. The school staff have suggested a netball court and lacrosse circles. Although the low ceilings prevent netball and other sports being played here, markings would be very useful for a wide variety of activities, both in curricular PE and after school clubs. The Parent Council agreed to fund this up to £250. However, initial quotes indicate that it would be much more expensive – while £250 might cover the cost of painting the markings, it is likely to cost over £1,000 to remove and reapply the gloss finish to the floor. We are now therefore exploring other cheaper options such as tape line markings.
• A school team sports strip, comprising top, shorts and socks. Perhaps around 25 (or more?) kits in various sizes. The pupils have expressed a very strong desire for this, and some have mentioned the embarrassment of turning up at events where all other schools have their own team strip. It should also encourage pupils to take pride in representing their school. It should be remembered that our pupils are ambassadors for our school when they are competing and it is important how they are turned out! A suitable kit has now been identified, and a sample will shortly be with the school. The option of having a sponsor name on the kit may be explored.
• Sports-specific equipment. This may change depending on what sports the pupils say they want, and what skills we have to deliver them, but provisionally we have identified:
o Netball equipment, including balls and bibs
o Hockey sticks and goals
o Footballs and football goals
o Cheerleading pom poms
o Basketball court markings in the back playground, baskets and balls.
A suggestion has been made to use some of the money raised from the Fair Trade Fashion Show to buy Fair Trade footballs, netballs and basketballs.
• Transport to allow pupils to attend tournaments throughout the year.
A further sports working group meeting will be scheduled once responses are received from the parents survey.
Traci Leven
Parent Council Sports Working Group