Prep Sports and Activities

Physical Education & Games

St Columba’s Prep and Pre-Prep Physical Education and Games department aims to promote enjoyment in physical activity, physical development and a healthy lifestyle to all pupils.

There are two full time subject specialists in the department who, between them teach all children throughout the Prep and Pre-Prep.

The school’s facilities are excellent with a large sports hall, a smaller multi-purpose hall, playing fields which include four rugby pitches (two junior and two senior) a cricket pitch and cricket nets. The school also has access to an athletics track, swimming pool, further cricket squares and playing fields in Verulamian Park, all within walking distance.



Curriculum

In the Pre-Prep, pupils participate in a variety of activities with individual creative developments fostered through gymnastics, movement and sports/games skills and the concept of working as a team constantly encouraged through games. The main aim is for all children to develop a love of participating in and enjoying physical activity.

The Prep is divided into lower (Year 3 and 4) and upper (Year 5 and 6) schools. In the lower school pupils participate in one games session each week in addition to their time tabled P.E. lesson and swimming session. Activities in P.E. change each term and include gymnastics, health & fitness activities, sports skills and athletics. In the upper school pupils participate in two games sessions each week in addition to their time tabled P.E. lesson. Termly P.E. activities include gymnastics, health & fitness activities, basketball, hockey and athletics.

In both the lower and upper schools our main games are rugby and cricket. After half term in the spring term in the upper school, football is delivered to pupils not involved in rugby squads with the opportunity to play fixtures against other schools.

Inter-School Competition

There is a competitive fixture and tournament list in our major games from the Under 8 age group upwards. Upper school fixtures are predominately played on a Friday afternoon whilst under 8's and under 9's play on Tuesday and Thursday respectively. The school competes in national competitions in rugby and athletics, in county competitions in football, athletics, cross country and swimming, and in district competitions in football, athletics and cross country.

Achievements

Recent achievements have included our U11's winning the Plate touranament and finishing fifth in England and our U10's reaching the quarter finals and finishing in the top eight of the country at the National Prep Rugby Tournament Finals in 2007. In 2008 the Under 8's finished runners-up in the same tournament with the Under 11's also finishing in the top 16. Also winning the district and county Wix Cup in football, winning the National Catholic Prep Athletics Championships and winning the District Athletics for the last five years.

Sports for All

Although there are many opportunities for able pupils to compete in many different activities, the P.E. and Games department prides itself on its ethos of ‘sports for all’. The school regularly plays ‘A’, ‘B’,and ‘C’ teams in fixtures for all age groups to allow all pupils to represent the school. Annual sporting activities in the Prep also include inter-house rugby, football, cross country, basketball, swimming gala, sports day and the Pre- Prep sports day.

As important as participation and prowess, sportsmanship and good manners on and off the field and on the touchline are regarded as essential.