Back from her incredible week with the England Women's Table Tennis Squad, our Head of PE Emma Harradine shares a valuable insight into 'A Week in the Life' of her busy faculty.

The highlights? 

The Avon Schools Athletics Finals, under 15 girls football team reach the quarter finals of the National Cup, GCSE and A-Level students prepare for for their exams, under 19 girls football team play in the semi-finals of the Somerset Cup, under 15 boys football team reach the quarter finals of the Somerset Cup, lots of after school clubs are well attended including badminton, table tennis, football and the Fitness Suite, and lots of our wonderful students enjoy their PE lessons.  

What a week!

Read on for the full ‘Week in the Life of our PE Department’:

Monday

Two PE staff members collect the minibus keys and complete associated paperwork to take the U15 girls to play a last 16 National Cup fixture away in Truro. They arrive back that evening elated to have won their match 4-1 and win a place in the quarter finals.

Year 8 students are welcomed for their first lesson of the week which is a carousel of activities for them to take part in.

The year 10 students have a double lesson including a 12-minute run and gym tests (which is met with a chorus of disapproval and groans!). The other half of year 10 arrive for their double lesson later in the day and word has got out that it’s ‘fitness tests’ so staff do their best to motivate all of them!

Year 7 students go on a trip to UWE to take part in the Avon Schools Indoor Athletics Finals and are delighted to have finished third.

Tuesday

20 keen girls arrive bright and early at 7.30am for football training, which is followed by a faculty staff briefing with all PE staff to run through fixtures, results and other key messages for the week ahead. Lots to prepare for our football teams in the Somerset Cup and football festivals within North Somerset.

Year 11 students work through exam content and revision techniques for their GCSE and Cambridge National exams. The year 12s and 13s complete their assignments for their coursework units.

Year 8 and year 9 classes enjoy a mixture of activities including use of the Fitness Suite, football, badminton and basketball.

After school there are lots of clubs taking place including football, Fitness Suite, badminton and table tennis, all of which are well attended.

Wednesday

Year 8 and year 11 attend their PE lessons in the morning, which is following by a busy afternoon for the faculty.

The U19 girl’s football team play at home in a Somerset Cup semi-final match against Hayesfield School from Bath. The players meet us in the changing rooms where the kit is handed out and checks for shin pads and boots are carried out. Sadly the team don’t win this game but are proud of their efforts.

The U15 boy’s football team play Robert Blake School in Bridgwater for their last 16 match in the Somerset Cup, returning home victorious with a 4-1 win and a place in the quarter final.

After school consists of a club in the Fitness Suite and the year 9 boy’s football club, followed by a faculty meeting with staff involved in some quality assurance and moderation of students’ work in preparation for the rapidly approaching exam season.

Thursday

Year 7 are on a carousel of activities and year 9 do their GCSE PE theory, where students are learning about the cardiovascular system and are preparing for their end of unit test.

Year 9 enjoy football, basketball, hockey and the Fitness Suite.

Year 8 boys should have had a Somerset Cup football match v Bucklers Mead but are given a walkover and are through to the quarter finals.

After school consists of badminton and Fitness Suite clubs as well as extra revision and catch-up sessions for GCSE PE and Cambridge National sport.

Friday

Staff check the ESFA website to see who the next opponents will be in the quarter finals of the National Cup which is an away fixture, possibly facing multiple champions in this event, Surbiton School in Kingston.

Year 7 students brave the cold and windy conditions during their PE lessons and year 9 GCSE PE students finish off their unit on the cardiovascular system.

Staff reach Friday afternoon looking forward to a restful and relaxing weekend, ready to do it all again on Monday!