Sport
Physical Education
“Physical Education provides opportunities for pupils to be creative, competitive, and co-operative.”
Physical Education is aimed at developing pupils' physical competence and confidence and their ability to use these to perform in a range of activities. It promotes physical skilfulness and development, and knowledge of the body in action. Physical Education provides opportunities for pupils to be creative, competitive, and co-operative. Boys face different challenges as individuals and as part of groups and teams. The learning of rules for team games is an important element and pupils are taught these rules at an early age. Good sportsmanship is fundamental in all team sports.
In the Autumn Term the focus is on gymnastics. Pupils work individually, with a partner and in groups. There is floor work, use of the climbing frame, springboard and climbing ropes. There is also an emphasis on fitness (after the long summer holiday) and obstacle courses are designed with this aim in mind.
In the Spring Term the focus is on ball skills. Large, small and medium sized balls are used to develop manipulation and hand-eye, foot-eye co-ordination. An emphasis on balance and control is fundamental in improving these skills.
In the Summer Term the focus is on the skills required to use bats, racquets, hockey sticks and pucks. Again hand eye co-ordination, balance and control are developed.
Emphasis is put on the inclusion of every pupil.
Football
Football is played in the Autumn term by boys in Years 2-8, but preparations start in earnest months earlier with the arrangement of suitable fixtures to give as many boys as possible the opportunity to experience a competitive match atmosphere for whatever standard they may be. Emphasis is put on the inclusion of every pupil.
The boys are encouraged to develop their skills in small coached groups from an early age and as they progress through the school, positional play and tactics begin to be intertwined with the basic attributes. We have recently forged a partnership with AFC Wimbledon and the boys regularly benefit from their coaches and experience. The school has shown its ambition in recent years with purchasing of new state of the art equipment to go hand in hand with the Drax project (new fields and changing facilities). Indeed our new fields will play host to the inaugural Willington 7-aside tournament in October 2007.
The boys have also benefited from and enjoyed the experience of European tours and have pitted their wits against European opposition in tournaments. The football House Competition forms an integral part of the season and all boys are encouraged to participate.
Rugby
The aims of Willington rugby are to ensure that all players from Year 3 through to Year 8 are physically and technically prepared to play rugby in a safe and enjoyable environment. Player safety is paramount at Willington. Much time is spent on learning and practising safe and correct techniques in all contact areas of the game, especially in the tackle and the scrum. Rugby fixtures are played during the Spring Term by Year 3 through to Year 8 against other schools of similar size.
Cricket
Cricket is taught during the Summer Term to all year groups from Year 2 to Year 8. There is an emphasis on skill and technique development in the lower year groups. Basic skills such as grip, stance, shot techniques, bowling actions, fielding techniques and basic strategy are taught to the younger boys in preparation for fixtures in later years.
From Year 4 to 8 technique and skill are still taught where possible but emphasis is on fixtures against other schools of similar size. Boys could be expected to play between 5 and 10 matches in a season. The 1st Xl and Colts Xl are the busiest teams playing many matches and also touring to other schools in nearby Sussex and Kent. These tours could be day tours or 2 to 4 day tours depending on the circumstances. The 1st Xl and Colts Xl also have the opportunity to participate in 6-aside competitions organised on weekends throughout the season by local schools. Willington also has plans to host similar tournaments in the near future.
Our aim at Willington is to provide every boy in the school with the basic skills needed to enjoy a game of cricket and to give them experience playing in a competitive match. Many boys continue to play cricket at school or club level after leaving Willington in Year 8 and we hope that this trend continues.
Swimming
Swimming is a valuable life skill. Boys have swimming lessons once a week from the Foundation Stage through to Year 8. Stroke technique is developed and pupils obtain distance and challenge awards based on the guidelines of the Amateur Swimming Association. Some of our more talented swimmers completed time trials in the Boys National Independent Prep School Swimming Championships. Others have had the opportunity to take part in the English Schools Swimming Association County Galas. Every year there is a Willington inter-house swimming gala for boys in Years 4-8. Competition is strong and medals and trophies are awarded. All boys show wonderful team spirit and sportsmanship.
