Sport Programmes

In the Skinners’ High Performance Programme we believe in continuous improvement and offering another layer of support towards being your best. This ethos is outlined in our Elite Sports Programme (Years 10 to 13) and Youth Pathway (Years 7 to 9). Those students currently on our Programme represent regional and national teams.

Students on the Elite Sports Programme benefit from extensive strength and conditioning support. This involves a combination of strength, speed, power and durability sessions that are individualised to suit the demands of their relevant sport. As well as the sessions they are also monitored for workload in tandem with their technical coaches so that they are maximising their weekly schedules. In addition to S&C support, the elite students are also given 1 to 1 technical and tactical training sessions, sports psychology and time management seminars, nutritional advice and access to a sports staff mentor. Entrance to the programme is subject to a successful application, and if you would like to apply to be a part of the programme please see Mr McBride or email nick.mcbride@skinners-school.org.uk.

Students on the Youth Pathway attend weekly strength and conditioning sessions in the Performance Centre. The focus is on laying the foundations for movement competency. The sessions include work on greater stability development, improving range of motion and flexibility, and progressively introducing formal strength exercises. This builds a solid foundation for later strength training, making them a stronger, more powerful and robust athlete in their relevant sports. Students will be selected by the PE and Games staff at Skinners’ based on their talent, present representation and commitment to improving.

 Mr N McBride

Head of Athletic Development

nick.mcbride@skinners-school.org.uk

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.

President John F Kennedy

Developing leadership qualities is vital for all walks of life. Sport is a brilliant tool that can be used to develop such qualities. The leadership programme we run at Skinners’ gives our pupils the confidence, resilience, social skills needed to become a high-quality leader.

Opportunities to lead, and learn how to lead, occur at Key Stage 3, 4, and 5 at Skinners’. Every pupil in Key Stage 3 will be exposed to leadership opportunities, pupils will then choose to pursue this if further if they wish in Key Stage 4 and 5.

The leadership opportunities will start within curriculum Physical Education time, however as the pupils’ confidence progresses, they will be invited to showcase their ability to lead small parts of our extra-curricular programme, working with a different year group. At Key Stage 4 and 5, pupils will also be invited to organise and deliver various sporting provisions to external sporting organisations (e.g. local primary schools, local disability sports clubs).

Below is a roadmap of our leadership programme:

Key Stage 3: Introduction to Leadership

• Every pupil will learn how to learn and be given opportunities to lead
• These leadership opportunities will occur within curriculum Physical Education lessons
• Pupils will also be able to assist Sports Staff at various extra-curricular clubs and activities outside of lesson time.

Key Stage 4: I Can Lead

• Pupils will be given the choice to select this at the start of Year 10
• Physical Education lesson will be utilised to consolidate what they’ve learnt, as well as improving their delivery of sports-related sessions
• These leaders will then have opportunities to lead sessions in line with the school’s extra-curricular programme
• All pupils who complete the course will be awarded a Sports Leader UK ‘I CAN LEAD’ certificate

Key Stage 5: Level 3 Higher Sports Leader

• Pupils will enrol in a nationally recognised qualification, ideal for university personal statements, and worth UCAS points
• The course will run over five timetabled periods a fortnight, in a series of practical and theory lessons
• Pupils will have the opportunity to lead on school, community, and disability projects