Physical Education

Sport is central to life at Stanborough, the benefits to physical and mental health are fundamental to our curriculum and extra curriculum activities. We strive to inspire our students to take part in physical activity for their whole life, not just in school. We pride ourselves on the wide range of physical activities for all our students and the opportunity to develop competitive excellence.

Head of Department: Mr P Harris, Miss E Bowen
Email: PHarris@stanborough.herts.sch.uk, / EBowen@stanborough.herts.sch.uk

Students at Stanborough are engaged in a range of traditional sports including rugby, football, athletics, volleyball, netball and striking and fielding and non traditional sports such as ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, capture the flag, Danish long ball and handball. Students at Stanborough have access to excellent facilities which include a large sportshall, dance studio and gym, 9 floodlit netball courts, sportsfield with multiple football, rounders and rugby pitches, Gosling athletics and tennis centre and Stanborough Lakes. Students also benefit from our partnerships with local clubs who use our facilities in the evenings. We have over 40 different sports teams who successfully compete at both a local and county level each year.

Students can opt to take a qualification at Key Stage 4 and 5 in Sport and Dance. We offer GCSE, BTEC and A Level PE and BTEC Dance which allows all students to succeed. As a Sports Leadership Academy, students are also encouraged to join the vast Sports Leadership Programme which enables them to experience the organisation and running of activities for younger students. We pride ourselves on the links we have primary and special schools such as lakeside in our local community. Sports leadership develops many Personal and Social skills such as communication, empathy and confidence.

What will students study?

In KS3
Students take part in a range of activities and sports at Key Stage 3, such as: netball, football, rugby, softball, handball, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, dance, gymnastics, rounders, athletics, cricket, fitness, table tennis and tennis.

We have opportunities to use local facilities such as Gosling Sports Park and Stanborough Lakes.

In KS4
As part of core PE in Years 9,10 and 11, students can choose to follow any of the following routes.

GCSE PE: controlled practical assessment contributes 40% and written examination is 60% of the final edexcel award.

Level 2 BTEC in Sport: controlled assessment contributes 75% of written and practical coursework and the exam is 25% of the final edexcel award.

In KS5
A Level PE (Edexcel exam board): 30% practical coursework and 70% written exam.

Community Sports Leaders Award (CSLA) and Higher Sports Leaders Award (HSLA) are on offer as part of the enrichment programme.

How can I support my child in this subject?

Ensure that the full and correct PE kit is worn by your child to all PE lessons. Encourage your child to take part in extra-curricular sports activities at school and maintain a basic level of health. It is advised that children and young people should complete at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day – this should range from moderate activity, such as cycling and playground activities, to vigorous activity, such as running and tennis.

What equipment does my child need in this subject?

Full Stanborough PE kit for every lesson, including trainers not plimsolls. Boys will need studded boots for football and rugby.

Celebrating successes in this subject

We are one of only two Sports Leadership Academies in the East of England, many opportunities are created for students to lead and deliver sports to local primary and special schools.

We have achieved championship success in a number of county and district sports competitions, this includes boys’ and girls’ volleyball, Concept 2 Rowing, rounders, athletics, football, basketball and girls’ football.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Extra-curricular sport takes place at lunchtimes, at the end of the school day and on some weekends during the school year.

Lunchtime sports activities are held in the sports hall and the gym. These include open access (within a specified year group) clubs for basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, 5-a-side football, indoor athletics, cricket and dance. Students only need to change into clean trainers to be able to get involved.

At the end of the school day is when our large variety of sports teams compete in local, district and county competitions. We hold practices for these teams throughout the year dependent on the weather and sports season. Much of the school year is taken up with fixtures and practices for our teams. Our main competitive sports are football, netball, rugby, basketball, badminton and volleyball in the first two terms. In the summer term we have track and field athletics, rounders, cricket and softball. We hold two dance performance evenings during the Autumn and Spring term which are often held at Herts Uni and involve hundreds of students, they are inspirational evenings which are the highlight of the fantastic dance offered at Stanborough. We also enter competitions held locally in cross country, table tennis, concept II indoor rowing, swimming, golf and tennis.

Inter-house sports competitions form an integral part of our calendar and these can occur at lunchtimes and after school and culminate in our 2 day sports day, which every student contributes to.

To find out more about our teams, fixtures and results, please visit the appropriate sections of this website.

Sports Leaders

There are always numerous opportunities for students to volunteer and lead at extra-curricular clubs and at sports events and festivals on and off site. Those students who demonstrate excellent leadership skills are encouraged to become sports ambassadors. These silver, gold and platinum sports ambassadors plan, organise and deliver their own events and festivals within school and in our local primary schools.

In Year 12 students can opt to take part in a sports leaders UK community qualification. This qualification compliments other study, such as A-Level PE and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

In Year 13 students can build on their previous experience and opt to take the Higher Sports Leader UK Level 3 qualification. The main focus of this award is working with children and disabled people. Successful learners gain 30 UCAS tariff points on completion. This qualification provides a stepping stone to employment, further education or training.