Sports Department
Hello, and welcome to the Woodford Green Preparatory School Sports Department.
Here you will find information about what we teach, our values and philosophies as a department, friendly competitive sport and ways to be a supportive parent in sport.
At Woodford Green Preparatory School sport and physical activity is valued highly and the children very much enjoy the subject. Our aim is to have fun and enjoy physical activity and sport whilst stretching those of high performance. The children are encouraged and challenged accordingly whilst learning and we plan for all pupils to have positive experiences of movement and playing sports. Our department is knowledgeable and diverse with over 30+ years combined experience in school sport.
Games
Pupils from year 3 -6 benefit from Games lessons throughout the week. Usually single sex games groups, although there may be times when this may change and we need to mix the boys and girls accordingly. If this does occur, the type of sport and possible rules may change to accommodate both sexes.
Games lessons are all taught by specialist sports teachers and coaches with individual strengths across all our main sports.
Within our games lessons we are fortunate to teach within smaller class sizes. Our teacher to pupils ratio within the pupils’ games lessons is 1:12 per year group. This allows for greater teacher contact where pupils benefit from our specialist teachers and coaches in depth knowledge of their sport.
We are lucky enough to be able to facilitate our games and PE lessons on site. However, on the occasion when we do go off site, the facilities are based locally ensuring travel time is minimised for our pupils.
Members of the PE and Games staff hold a current minibus licence which allows for greater flexibility to travel by using any of our two 16 seater mini buses.
Our onsite and offsite facilities include:
• Indoor sportshall - Various sports
• Outside courts - Netball, Football, Hockey, Table Tennis and Tennis
• Ashtons Playing Fields - Hockey
• Old Loughtonians Hockey Club - Hockey Practices
• The Connaught Club - Squash lessons
• The Local Green (owned by Woodford Green Cricket Club) - Cross-Country, Athletics, Rugby and Cricket
Physical Education
Pupils from year 3 -6 benefit from Games lessons throughout the week. Usually single sex games groups, although there may be times when this may change and we need to mix the boys and girls accordingly. If this does occur, the type of sport and possible rules may change to accommodate both sexes.
Games lessons are all taught by specialist sports teachers and coaches with individual strengths across all our main sports.
Within our games lessons we are fortunate to teach within smaller class sizes. Our teacher to pupils ratio within the pupils’ games lessons is 1:12 per year group. This allows for greater teacher contact where pupils benefit from our specialist teachers and coaches in depth knowledge of their sport.
We are lucky enough to be able to facilitate our games and PE lessons on site. However, on the occasion when we do go off site, the facilities are based locally ensuring travel time is minimised for our pupils.
Members of the PE and Games staff hold a current minibus licence which allows for greater flexibility to travel by using any of our two 16 seater mini buses.
Our onsite and offsite facilities include:
• Indoor sportshall - Various sports
• Outside courts - Netball, Football, Hockey, Table Tennis and Tennis
• Ashtons Playing Fields - Hockey
• Old Loughtonians Hockey Club - Hockey Practices
• The Connaught Club - Squash lessons
• The Local Green (owned by Woodford Green Cricket Club) - Cross-Country, Athletics, Rugby and Cricket
The table below highlights the type of sports which both boys and girls will play throughout the school year:
Sporting fixtures and Club Participation
We ensure that all pupils in year 4-6 will take part in representing their school in sporting events. Meaning 100% of pupils are given the opportunity to play competitive sporting fixtures. Pupils that excel at sport are chosen to represent our squad teams. These competitive environments are planned with other local primary school and prep schools as well as national competitions.
We develop all teams from A team players right the way through to our developing C team players and all pupils gain experience in both competitive as well as friendly fixtures. When playing competitive sport we encourage the children to try their very best. At WGPS we teach children the importance of winning gracefully and being dignified in defeat. We value winning and trying to win but it is also matched with valuing player performance.
Throughout the year WGPS organise and host a variety of sporting events and celebrations.
Inter school events WGPS host:
-
U9 (Y4) inter schools football and netball tournament
-
U11 (Y6) inter schools football tournament
-
U8-U11 (Y3-6) inter schools cross country event
Intra school events WGPS host:
-
Swimming Gala at Stratford Aquatics centre
-
Foundation stage 1 + 2 sports day
-
Year 1 + 2 sports day
-
Year 3 - 6 sports day
-
Celebratory Sports assembly for pupils in year 1 - 6.
-
Termly House competitions
Cross Country Programme
“Ipsative assessments - Where children are encouraged to ‘beat’ their own previous score;”
Our Cross Country programme is not measured by 1st, 2nd, 3rd but recording the improvement in individual times. This encourages ‘individual motivation’ where all children
improve their time. Sports Day events are a combination of individual achievement with Gold, Silver and Bronze given to race winners. Children are awarded points for ALL activities where their scores are added together in a House tournament. We aim to achieve our goal of being both Inclusive & Competitive.
How can parents help and support what we do?
Try to see ‘Sports’ from the perspective of the child; socially, they are more concerned with playing with friends and having fun. Encourage your child to focus on ‘giving’ their best rather than ‘being’ the best. Try to develop qualities such as grit, determination & resilience and how to see failure as a learning opportunity. Ask questions relating to individual performance rather than focus on the team result. Did you enjoy the game? What did you learn about yourself? What would you do differently next time? When watching school fixtures, refrain from shouting out instructions - see the match as an exam or classroom activity, where your child is being tested or learning. Would you shout out the answers in an exam or lesson?
Encouraging and participating in active travel to school, walking, scooting, cycling are all great ways of getting additional exercise into the week and a great way to start and finish the day.
